When you boast a 6-footer at center in the world of high school girls basketball, the game becomes agonizingly simple. Get the ball inside.

That's been the philosophy of Glenn coach Andy Athanas for six years now. First it was 6-foot Harmonie Calinda, followed by 6-2 Caila Desroches. Now 6-1 sophomore Jaclyn McKenna is the focus of the Glenn attack.

And she excelled most on Thursday when the Suffolk League VI contest was in doubt. McKenna scored 12 of her 32 points in the fourth quarter as Glenn held off rival Harborfields, 62-52.

"It's hard to follow Caila and Harmonie," said guard Stephanie Geng, a member of Glenn's state Federation Class B title team in 2005. "They were great players. But Jaclyn's doing what she has to do."

McKenna powered inside for a layup with 3:59 left to give the Knights (9-2, 6-0) a 47-43 edge and end a chaotic sequence marked by five turnovers. She struck again 29 seconds later, putting back Geng's missed runner.

A basket by Harborfields captain Melissa Luxemberg was countered by Geng's fourth three-pointer of the game that extended Glenn's lead to 52-45 with 3:03 left. Harborfields (6-4, 4-2) was forced to foul soon after. Glenn made 6 of 10 foul shots in the final minute.

Harborfields threatened throughout because 5-10 junior Kelly Ryan offers a major matchup problem. She's fast, a good ballhandler and a lethal shooter from just about anywhere. "We had to deal with putting a smaller guard on her," said Geng, who had 17 points.

Ryan responded with 24 points, including seven in the final five minutes.

But it was all about McKenna, who added 17 rebounds and three blocked shots.

"Our guards were able to get the ball to her," Athanas said. "That was key. The game suddenly changes when the ball is in her hands."

Harborfields was able to deny her at times with a double-team. Yet McKenna would not be denied in the final minutes. It was something she learned while playing alongside Desroches.

"She told me I could be better than I was," McKenna recalled. "So I worked hard to improve over the summer."

Now Glenn has another big edge on the road to a third straight Long Island Class B title. McKenna is only going to get better.