Ward Melville Knocks Kings Park Out of Playoffs

Senior forward Daniele Buoncore scored 8 of her 14 points and Emily Santoli made all six of her free throw attempts during a fourth-quarter rally, but it wasn't enough to stage a comeback in a 53-39 loss to Ward Melville in a Class AA playoff game Monday.

The eleventh-seeded Lady Kingsmen (14-5) fell behind early, missing shots as No. 6 Ward Melville (12-5) went on a 14-0 run to start the game. Ward Melville led 27-11 at halftime.

"We came out cold and I'm not really sure why," Kings Park coach Tom Edmundson said. "We battled back from that point ... and we outplayed them in the fourth. I've got very athletic, tough girls. They came out cold, and that was the difference in the game."

Ward Melville led by as many as 29 early in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Kingsmen fought back, outscoring their opponent 24-12 in the fourth before they ran out of time. Ward Melville coach Lawrence Combs called Kings Park "well composed" in the second half.

"They gave us trouble in the second half, just attacking the basket," he said. "You don't get back into a game shooting long jump shots. They just kept attacking the basket."

Kristen Picciano added seven points for Kings Park, which finished its regular season at second place in League V.

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