The Tornado claimed the Tiger on Long Island this past week. The Harborfields High School girls’ varsity basketball defeated the previously undefeated Northport High School girls’ basketball in the semifinal matchup to advance to the Class AA County Final.
Harborfields girls’ basketball is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League 4. The girls are led by first-year head coach Jason Brittman, who is joined courtside by assistant coach Hafner. This season, the team boasts an 18–4 record.
The Tornadoes have suffered four losses this season, all of which have come against two specific teams: league opponents Half Hollow Hills West High School girls’ basketball (44–50 L, 35–39 L) and Westhampton Beach High School girls’ basketball (46–68 L, 55–67 L). Coincidentally, they played those two teams back-to-back each time they met—once in January and again in February. Those two sets of losses are the only blemishes in their impressive string of wins.
The Class AA playoff bracket saw Harborfields face Centereach High School girls’ basketball in the first round, beating them 49–35. Advancing to the semifinal matchup, they took on the talented and undefeated Northport Tigers. The Tornadoes gave it everything they had to emerge victorious and put an end to the Tigers’ season. When the buzzer sounded, the Tornadoes’ bench erupted in cheers as the team rushed the court to celebrate together. Head coach Jason Brittman has now guided his team to the County Final in his first season behind the bench.
A 57–51 win sent them to the County Final, which will take place on Friday, March 6, at a neutral site on the campus of Stony Brook University. The opponent? Westhampton. Having faced them twice this season means the two teams are familiar with one another. Third time’s the charm, right?
Westhampton, a League 4 opponent, currently sits atop the league standings with a 20–2 record. Their only losses this season came against Baldwin High School girls’ basketball and Bay Shore High School girls’ basketball. Westhampton’s offense is similar to Harborfields’ in that it consistently produces points and wins.
Harborfields has been productive on offense, averaging 45-plus points per game in each of its 18 wins. A majority of those victories fell within the 52–65 point range. Scoring has not been an issue for the Tornadoes, to say the least.
Harborfields celebrated its four seniors in late January as part of the Senior Day tradition. Liz Sabino, Rose Poller, Grace Hochheiser, and Scarlet Carey are set to graduate this spring. All four seniors are members of the leadership group, serving as captains for the Tornadoes. Hochheiser and Sabino are multisport athletes for Harborfields.
The Harborfields girls’ varsity basketball team has put together a fantastic season this year. The Tornadoes fell short in the second round of the playoffs last year and may have used that loss as motivation to go all the way this season. Only time will tell, but a title is on the line come Friday when Harborfields and Westhampton step onto the court.
