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Sports

Varsity Girls Basketball Clinches Spot in County Playoffs With Win Over Eages: Huntington 51, Hauppauge 34

A win over Hauppauge secures return to Suffolk County basketball playoffs, which begin Tuesday, February 16.

Going into Tuesday night's pivotal match with Hauppauge, the Huntington girls varsity basketball team had a chance to make the playoffs. Win, and they're in.

But, regardless of a victory against the Eagles, seventh-year coach Brad Reminick said, the season had been, in all cases, "a success for us. I am really proud of our kids."

Well, the Blue Devils live to play another game, as they beat the Eagles 51-34.

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Huntington was led by Jackie Waldron, who had 16 points, and Raynisha Witherspoon, with 14.

The Hauppauge Eagles were led by Julie Williams, who had 12 points.

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The Huntington girls varsity team lost six seniors this year, five of whom were starters. "And those girls were probably five of the best to have ever gone through the program," the coach said.

The team has been to three straight Suffolk County championships, and won the county championship two years ago.

As Tuesday night was also the last regular game of the year,  the team's seniors were acknowledged by Reminick, and were presented with flowers and  appreciation and before the tip.

According to Reminick, "this year's group…I don't think people were expecting very much of us, at all."

Huntington starts only two seniors, he only ones on the squad: Meredith McCourt, and Lauren Visbal, who are also both team captains. Waldron is a transfer from nearby St. Anthony's, and has averaged over 12 points a game, and has also been playing terrific defense. Reminick has also counted on his other starters - Witherspoon and Emma Hayes-Hurley - for consistent production and leadership on the floor.

The Hauppauge Eagles came into the game just below the Blue Devils in the standings. If they had won Tuesday night, they would have evened up their overall record of 9-9, but the team would still miss the playoffs, due to a losing League V record of 6 – 8.

How does Reminick size up the competition in the playoff rounds? "We've played everybody very tough this year. We lost to [League leader] Kings Park – who will be the No. 1 seed -  in the last two minutes by two. And we played Sayville very tough last week, and they should be a 4th or 5th seed."

The Suffolk County (section XI) girls playoffs begin Feb.16, and continue through the first week of March, to determine the county champion.

The Blue Devils will most likely play their first playoff game on Feb.17.

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