Cold Spring Harbor girls basketball wins LI Class B title

This time last year, the Cold Spring Harbor girls basketball team walked out of the Farmingdale State College gymnasium disappointed after falling short of advancing to the state tournament by just two points. From that moment on, the Seahawks promised themselves they’d win a Long Island championship the following year.

On Wednesday night, they did just that.

Cold Spring Harbor walked out this time with its heads held high after defeating Babylon, 57-22, to secure the Long Island Class B championship.

Cold Spring Harbor (21-2) advances to the state semifinal round. The Seahawks will play at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on March 21 at 10 a.m.

“At the beginning of the season, we all decided, we’re not letting that happen again,” senior forward Ryan Reynolds said. “We remember that feeling of falling short and we definitely carried that with us this season.”

Reynolds tied as one of the lead scorers finishing with 10 points and six rebounds.

“Ryan’s the best athlete on any court,” Cold Spring Harbor coach Rory Malone said. “She’s just an unbelievable athlete and it seems like whenever we needed a play, she was there tonight.”

Freshman Ainsley Dircks matched Reynolds with 10 points. Freshman Olivia Mulada added nine and senior Maggie Spehr had eight.

Peyton Logue-Boyd had 10 points for Babylon (19-3).

The chemistry on Cold Spring Harbor runs deep. Nearly half of the team plays lacrosse together and won the Class D state championship last June.

“The games definitely translate,” Malone said. “They have such an amazing bond playing both sports, you can see it on the court; the way they move, the way they talk, the way they pass, it’s a lot of fun to watch.”

Although the Seahawks dominated on the offensive end, it was their defense that was just as impressive.

The Seahawks totaled 16 steals. Senior Michelle Coles had six and Reynolds had four.

“Right before the game, we kept saying ‘defense wins games,’ ” Coles said. “Capitalize on defense and our shots will fall.”

“One of the biggest things we’ve improved on over the last year has been defense,” Malone said. “Last year, we were not a pressing team, and this year that’s our main calling card. We get after it and teams are in for a long night and a lot of up and down.”

The Long Island championship is Cold Spring Harbor’s first since 2006.

“To get over that hump and get upstate after nearly two decades is something we’ve been talking about since the beginning of the year,” Malone said. “It’s exciting. It’s been a while, but it’s been a long time coming.”

Reynolds and Coles are excited for the chance to earn a state title for the first time in program history. Coles says it’s the hustle mentality this team has that can lead them there.

“It’s the chemistry and hustle that makes us special,” Coles said. “We all know we have to go for every ball, if it’s 50/50, it has to be ours.”

“I’ve never been to Troy,” Reynolds said. “But I’m excited and ready to leave it all out there.”