The Patch Covers Baldwin Boys and Girls Basketball

Excerpt from article:

As the week draws to a close, athletes across Nassau County are reflecting on the ups and downs of another part of their season. In Baldwin, Long Beach and Massapequa, there were mostly highs.

Read on to find out about the week that was in the Nassau County Team of the Week:

Baldwin Boys Hoops Coach Hits 450 Wins

A 57-37 win over Valley Stream Central was already reason to be proud for Baldwin High School’s boys’ basketball team, currently 17-2 on the year with an 11-2 record in league play. But for Coach Darius Burton, this one was a special feather in the cap: The win marked his 450th at the helm of Baldwin boys’ hoops since he took the role 26 years ago.

“It makes me feel old, to be honest with you” Burton said Thursday. “To be here 26 years, it’s a blessing to the community, to the talent that has been here for 26 years…every year they just do a great job. It takes a village, you know?”

Burton noted Thursday that the modified and JV programs in Baldwin are undefeated, but said there’s no trash being talked about records within the program. Baldwin took a 12-game win streak into its matchup with East Meadow Friday night, a streak they’ve managed to maintain despite a trio of players going down with knee injuries before and during the season.

“I knew I had to be patient with this group, this is a very close-knit group,” Burton said. “In my program, we are a big believer in the ‘next man up’ mentality. I’ve been blessed to have so much talent in this community…We just found a way, it took a little time but we found a way to figure it out. And these kids have bought into the system, especially defensively.”

While it has taken some work, Burton reiterated that the thing that brought this Baldwin team success has been a commitment to the fundamentals from across the lineup.

“They do understand we’re human, and at any point we can slip up, Burton said of the players. “The recipe doesn’t change: Our best offense is our defense, and once the defense is cooking, everything else gets easier.”

Assistant Coach John Henry called Burton “one of the most humble people” he has worked with, noting that Burton didn’t rest on his laurels much after number 450. In his 17 years as an assistant on Burton’s staff, Henry said the thing that sets the head coach apart is the day-to-day work he’s able to do.

“How he prepares his teams, year in and year out, with the scouting, the film, and the everyday preparedness as far as the rigorous practice and preparing for battle, every single day,” Henry said.

For Burton, despite the number of wins on his record, the goal is the same this year as it is any year.

“The goal every year is to go upstate. The goal every year is to win a state championship,” Burton said. “I have a lot of wins, we’ve had a lot of great teams, a lot of Long Island championships, a lot of county championships, but what we need as a program is a state championship. And it happens one step at a time.”

Baldwin Girls’ Hoops Remain Undefeated In League Play

Staying in Baldwin, the girls’ basketball team maintained an undefeated record in league play this week, rolling to a 72-29 league win over Valley Stream Central Tuesday night before taking a non-league loss to St. Mary’s the next night.

For Coach Tom Catapano, the secret to success this year was work the girls on the team put in before the season even started. A four-month season, Catapano said, becomes a bigger part of the calendar for Baldwin girls’ basketball.

“I think our program really goes all year round. There’s really no break, so, obviously the season is November to March, but we pick back up in April, we go all spring, all summer, all fall,” Catapano said. “Last year we lost six seniors, who all went on to play college basketball, and most programs would have a really down year just because of all the firepower that was lost, and our program was able to absorb those losses, and still be in the mix to win a championship this year.”

In recent weeks, Catapano said Baldwin alumna Kaia Harrison, a former Federation Class AA Tournament MVP, was back with the team during a break in her overseas season. The presence of alums like Harrison, Catapano said, as a valuable one for current Baldwin players.

“Our girls can see those legends of the past, it really inspires them,” Catapano said.

Baldwin took on Plainview Old Bethpage JFK Friday night, putting their undefeated league record on the line.

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