Baldwin Silencing Doubters Early

There were questions aplenty for the Baldwin girls’ basketball team. The biggest being: Can the Bruins continue to be elite after graduating six seniors who led them to a 24-2 season and a third New York State title in program history?

That question won’t truly be answered until March, but the early indication is that any talk of a down year for the perennial powerhouse is greatly exaggerated.

“I think we’re off to a good start, but we definitely have so much that we can improve on over the next month,” Baldwin head coach Tom Catapano said. “I’m definitely happy that the girls have stepped up to the challenge and are in a place currently where we can make a deep playoff run.”

Baldwin is 9-2 overall and undefeated on Long Island, its losses coming to Catholic powerhouse Nazareth out of Brooklyn and DePaul Catholic (NJ). And while there are big games on the horizon against Freeport and Massapequa, there’s been a lot to like for Catapano.

But there’s more work to do.

“We’ve been talking a lot about our overall competitive character as a group,” he said. “I think defensively, we’re nowhere near where we can be. But it definitely takes time and repetition and game experience,” he said. “We have a lot of kids right now playing very, very important roles that are very different from last year. So, like anything else, it’s a process, and it takes time.

“As long as we keep working hard and we keep challenging ourselves in practice and in our non-league games, we’re going to be in a good place come late February,” he added.

Alyssa Polonia, the lone returning starter from last year’s championship team, has provided necessary leadership. The senior guard, who recently committed to Assumption, had 23 points and four steals in a critical 65-57 win over Syosset on Jan. 10.

Fellow senior Leah Williams, the Bruins’ post presence, is finally back after missing two-and-a-half months due to injury.

“She’s really starting to impact the game offensively for us,” Catapano said. “She’s a great passer. It’s like having a quarterback in the middle of zones. She’s really starting to play the way she’s capable after coming off an injury in the fall.”

Junior Ajeya Nicholas has had her moments, as well, like the double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 74-53 victory over East Meadow on Jan. 12. Sophomore Malia Robinson, in her first year as the starting point guard, is improving game by game.

Senior Akua Bonsu has done all the dirty work, grabbing rebounds and playing tough defensively. And junior Chinaya Okogeri has embraced the role of defending the other team’s best player.

Sprinkle in Liz Hill, a junior who has provided a spark off the bench and fellow junior Nia Nesmith, who grabbed 10 boards against Syosset, and there have been more answers than questions for Baldwin this year.

“Can we eventually be the best version of what we have on our roster? If we eventually accomplish that, I think this group could make a really deep playoff push, or we could be knocked out of the playoffs early,” Catapano said. “It’s kind of where we are right now.”

See the original story online in the Baldwin Herald>>