Floral Park girls basketball's Abigail Vitrano, Juliette Payoute and late foul shooting key win over Lynbrook
Juliette Payoute of Floral Park shoots from the foul line during a girls basketball game against Lynbrook on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in Floral Park. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Missed foul shots cost the Floral Park girls basketball team the win against Plainedge on Wednesday, which led coach Michael Spina to place a strong emphasis on free-throw shooting drills in practice the next day.
"We blew an 11-point lead and it was a heartbreaker," Spina said. "We try to put them in pressure situations during practice. Being that we are so young, I keep preaching in practice that we have to learn how to finish these close games."
The outcome was different this time around.
The Knights were able to knock down free throws late in the fourth quarter in a 48-43 win over Lynbrook in a Nassau A-I matchup Saturday morning at Floral Park High School.
"We try to put them in pressure situations during practice. We always do conditioning drills, then they shoot free throws," Spina said. "I talk about slowing their heart rate when they're at the foul line, taking the full 10 seconds, catching your breath, then getting ready to shoot the ball."
Freshman point guard Meagan Ryan made an immediate impact off the bench, going 6-for-6 from the line for all of her points. She also played tight defense and forced turnovers.
"I didn't have Meg for the two games that we lost, and she made a huge difference today," Spina said. "Her basketball IQ is great; she's not afraid to go to the free-throw line when the pressure is on her. She's fearless."
Ryan and sophomore shooting guard Juliette Payoute made two free throws apiece to give the Knights a 46-41 lead.
After Lynbrook's Jessie Vuotto made two free throws to cut the lead to three, Siena McCree made two free throws to ice the game at 48-43 with 13 seconds left.
"Even though free throws are one point and it's minor, it makes a big difference," Ryan said. "The score was really tight, it's important when you get to the line, and you take a deep breath, and you make them."
"Free throws are what this game came down to, so I needed to get to the line," Payoute said. "I had confidence in myself I was going to make them when it counted the most."
Abigail Vitrano scored 13 points, including nine on three-pointers, to lead the Knights (5-3). Payoute added 12 points, four rebounds, and a steal. Amanda Owen led the team in rebounds with nine, and added two steals.
"I'm really proud of the team today," Vitrano said. "It's important to score, but I also know when you make those shots, the whole team has your back, and it shifts the momentum."
Vuotto had a game-high 15 points, and Sophia Sirufo had 10 points and anchored the defense with seven blocks for Lynbrook (2-4).
Spina knows his team is young, but he believes in his players.
"We are very young, and the young girls are the ones who made the big-time shots today," he said. "They played with heart today, and I couldn't be more proud of their performance today."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
