Syosset girls fall to Liverpool in state Class AAA semifinal

TROY — This moment was years in the making for the Syosset girls basketball program. But it needed a team unlike any other to break through and become the first ones to exit Long Island to compete for a state championship.

This was that team.

Although Syosset fell short of its ultimate goal of winning the first state title in program history, the team still felt pride. Syosset lost to Liverpool, 65-56, in the state Class AAA semifinals at Hudson Valley CCC on Saturday afternoon after winning the first Long Island crown in program history the week before.

“I thought this group was unique because we had a lot of athletes who really bought into their role,” coach Michael Ferreira said . . . “A lot of years we’ve had some great kids and maybe the pieces weren’t just right, but this year just felt like we had all the pieces right and kids who wanted to do their job and do it at a high level and play for each other.”

The Syosset program has been nearing a trip to Troy for years. In 2022, Syosset lost a two-point game to Baldwin, who eventually reached the state final, in the county final. Two years later, Syosset defeated Baldwin in a county final before losing to Whitman in the Long Island championship last season.

This year, Syosset finished 21-4, winning both a county and Long Island title to advance to Troy.

“We’re the first team in Syosset history to walk through these gym doors and compete for a state title,” Ferreira said. “And those are memories these girls will have with them forever, so we have a lot to be proud of.”

Junior guard Samantha Schneider led Syosset with 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. She also scored her 1,000th point on Saturday. Senior guard Kate Nelmes added 18 points and four steals and senior guard Ivy Matthews had nine points, six rebounds and four assists.

“I am super proud,” Schneider said. “No one would have thought we would have made it this far and we just kept going. Eventually, it was going to come to an end, but I’m so proud of how hard we competed.”

Syosset was able to get on the fast break early, closing the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 16-8 lead and then expanded its advantage to 19-8 after a Schneider three-pointer 15 seconds into the second quarter. Liverpool (20-4) cut Syosset’s lead to 28-23 with 50 seconds left in the second quarter before Schneider’s three-pointer with 12 seconds left gave Syosset a 31-23 lead at halftime.

But Liverpool utilized its size advantage more in the second half and opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run for 4:08 to take a 36-31 lead before a Nelmes three-pointer with 3:52 left in the period. Liverpool outscored Syosset 24-8 in the third quarter to open a 47-39 advantage. Liverpool then began the fourth quarter on an 8-3 run.

“We competed for 32 minutes and we gave them hell,” Schneider said. “They were tired, we were tired, but we didn’t give up. They did outrebound us at the end, but we were still trying to hustle. We gave our all, but we didn’t win it.”

Liverpool outrebounded Syosset 41-26, including 22-5 in the second half.

“It’s going to be tough to win basketball games when we can’t rebound the ball, credit to them for taking advantage of that,” Ferreira said. “But so much love for our girls for fighting for 32 minutes and making it as difficult as possible for them.”

Syosset hopes to build off winning its first Long Island championship in program history and first county crown since 2009 this year.

“We’re proud of ourselves,” Ferreira said. “We always say every team here is good, but so are we because otherwise we wouldn’t be here. So a lot of good things to come from this.”

“First time in school history, it’s amazing,” Schneider said. “We’re going to be back next year, so I can’t wait to win it all next year.”