Mahopac Girls close regular season with two wins, get set for playoffs

It was nice to get those two wins to end the season. It helps us prepare for the run we hope to make.””

Mahopac coach Jason Conklin

The Mahopac High School girls basketball team opened last week with a tough 55-44 road loss to a strong Suffern team Monday (Feb. 9), but the Pac rebounded with back-to-back wins — over Panas (54-27) and Fox Lane (51-45) — to close out regular-season action with the playoffs on the horizon this weekend.

Mahopac (13-7) was expected to be seeded No. 4 and will host a playoff game Saturday, time TBA, most likely vs. Saunders. That winner will most likely face Brewster with a trip to the semifinals at the Westchester County Center on the line.

Pac coach Jason Conklin said his team is comfortable with its seeding.

“We’re all feeling pretty good,” Conklin said. “We feel like the four seed gives us the best chance. We’ll be home until, or if, we make it to the County Center.”

Conklin called being ready from the opening tip a key to a strong playoff run.

“We need to get out to good, quick starts,” he explained. “We need to limit our opponent’s shots, get out in transition and play defense.”

The momentum the Pac carries into the postseason won’t hurt.

“It was nice to get those two wins to end the season,” Conklin said. “It helps us prepare for the run we hope to make.”

Last Friday at Fox Lane, Fiona Kelleher led the Pac with 20 points, while Mady Ford added 11 and Niamh Kelleher finished with 10.

One night earlier against Panas, Mahopac celebrated Ford (captain), Niamh Kelleher, Fiona Kelleher, Regan O’Boyle (captain) and Ashley Koch (captain) on Senior Night.

“They’ve all done a great job providing leadership,” Conklin said of the group. “We’ll be in good position down the road because of their leadership.”

Fiona Kelleher went off on the Panthers, dropping 23 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and eight steals. Karolina Klajbanova came up with nine points and three rebounds, and Niamh Kelleher, O’Boyle and Koch each had six points.

The prior Monday at Suffern, Giana Puckhaber’s 15 points and 11 rebounds led Mahopac, but the Wolves were unable to climb out of an early hole. Ford added 11 points; Fiona Kelleher had seven.

“We knew they were feisty on the defensive end,” Conklin said. “And they surprised us with their tempo. They pushed the ball. Being without Ashley that day also hurt us a bit on defense. We got down early and trailed by double digits. We got it to four late in the third, but could never tie it up.”