Basketball Preview

Longwood (19-4) lost Twin Towers Danielle DeGiorgio and Melissa Danchalski to graduation. The Lions also have a new coach, Dave DelFranco, who takes over for Pierce Hayes. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Dec 2000

Nice Start by Copiague, Clark: [NASSAU Edition]

Mark La Monica. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Dec 2000:

Copiague sophomore Angie Clark vividly remembers the day her older brother Jabar died. It was four years ago, and she was shooting hoops in her driveway with her younger brother Malik. Jabar, then a guard for Copiague’s junior varsity boys basketball team, suffered a brain aneurysm during a preseason pickup game.

Last night, four years after her brother died, Angie stepped on the court for her first varsity girls basketball game.

“All I could think about out there was my brother,” Clark said. “I was trying my hardest for him. I was trying to fulfill his dream, and I’ll be trying to do that for the rest of my life.”

Clark took a step in the right direction, scoring 11 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to help Copiague to a 58-51 win over defending Suffolk Class A champion Longwood in the season opener for both teams. Clark, a 6-1 center, dominated in the paint as she converted four of her 10 offensive rebounds into eight points. She was equally dominant on the defensive glass, blocking three shots and altering six others.

“She has a tremendous amount of raw talent,” second-year coach Carole Olsen said. “She just needs to build up her stamina.”

Clark is not used to playing an entire game. After Jabar’s death, Clark’s mother, Lena, would not let her play during her freshman year. “I’m afraid of the telephone ringing again about that basketball,” Lena said.

It took some prodding from Olsen, but Lena finally agreed to let her daughter play. “I wanted to play basketball all my life, but my mother said no,” Clark said. “I’m just glad my coach convinced her to let me play.”

Olsen must be glad, too. Together with 6-foot forward/center Jasmine Walker, Copiague starts one of the tallest frontcourts in Suffolk. Walker, another sophomore, picked up where Clark left off, scoring 11 points and cleaning up on the defensive end with 15 rebounds. If it wasn’t Clark boxing out and snatching loose balls from Longwood‘s reach, it was Walker. Together, Copiague’s twin towers kept Longwood away from the glass and away from second-chance points.

“Between Angie, Jasmine and Kia [Wright], we have such a strong triangle,” Olsen said.

Kia Wright makes any triangle stronger. She scored almost 500 points en route to All-County honors last season-as a freshman. Those numbers, and a crossover dribble that makes knees buckle, have drawn attention from some of the top college programs in the nation, including Connecticut and Louisiana Tech.

On this night, Wright scored 29 points. She even grabbed five rebounds in addition to her duties as point guard. “We have her playing three roles,” Olsen said.

Wright can score from anywhere. She also can maintain her dribble two inches off the court, and she can do it while sliding toward the sideline after a steal. Wright also knows how to spread the ball around. She averaged eight assists per game last season and matched that number last night. She also made eight steals.

Said Wright: “I’m going to go out and do whatever it takes to win.”

Copiague 15111418–58

Longwood 6141615–51

: Wright 11-4-29, Pagliarulo 1-0-2, Latoya Sills 1-1-3, Walker 5- 1-11, Clark 5-1-11, Latonya Sills 1-0-2. Totals: 24-7-58; L: Tobar 3- 1-7, Dell’Olio 3-0-6, Hernandez 2-0-5, Grimes 5-0-11, Baxter 5-8-20, Brennan 1-0-2. Totals: 19-9-51. Three-point goals:C 3 (Wright); L 4 (Baxter 2, Grimes, Hernandez).

Bellport 67, Longwood 55: Molly Brothers had 32 points and 15 rebounds as Bellport defeated Longwood, 67-56, in Suffolk. Geanett Baxter had 21 points, including five threes, for Longwood. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Dec 2000:

L: Tobar 3-0-6, Dell’Olio 3-1-7, Hernandez 5-0-11, Grimes 4-1-9, Baxter 5-6-21, Brennan 0-1-1, Lee 0-1-1. totals: 21-10-56. B: Sciangula 2-1-7, Brothers 16-0-32, Clark 1-3-5, Win 1-2-4, Carrabus 4- 2-10, Moore 4-1-9, Totals: 28-9-67. Three-point goals: L (Baxter 5, Hernandez); B: 2 (Sciangula)

Longwood 871712-44

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L: Baxter 3-1-10, DeliOlio 2-1-5, Hernandez 2-0-5, Grimes 6-0-12, Anderson 2-0-4, Terry 2-1-5, Lee 1-1-3. Totals: 18-4-44. M: Rasweiler 3-0-7, Kenny 7-8-23, Contegni 2-0-4, McEneaney 3-2-8, Quartararo 0-1- 1, Hasner 6-2-14, Mackay 4-1-9. Totals: 26-14-66.Three-point goals: L 4 (Baxter 3, Hernandez); M: 2 (Rasweiler, Kenny). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 21 Dec 2000:

Longwood 41, Whitman 37: Jeanette Baxter hit a 23-foot three- pointer with 1:45 to go to give Longwood a 38-37 lead in the non- league game. –Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Dec 2000: 

Sachem 73, Longwood 41: Sachem’s Toni Horvath and Deneane Hennessy each scored 14 points in a League I rematch of the 2000 Suffolk Class A final. Liz Rakita had 11 points for Sachem (2-0), which lost in that final last season. JeanetteBaxter had a game-high 16 points for Longwood (1-1). –Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Jan 2001

Smithtown 14142010-58

Longwood 1916209-64

S: Grzetic 6-2-14, Ohel 3-3-9, Tartamella 5-4-15, Glenn 3-1-7, Wisniewski 4-5-13. Totals: 21-15-58; L: Hernandez 8-1-18, Grimes 6-6- 18, Baxter 5-3-16, Tobar 2-0-4, Dell’Olio 2-3-5, Anderson 1-1-3. Totals: 24-14-64. Three-point goals: S 1 (Tartamella); L4 (Baxter 3, Hernandez). Jan. 10

Patchogue-Med 12672-27

Longwood 1221819-60

PM: Proniewych 3-2-8, Pausewang 4-0-8, Horst 2-0-4, Kaiser 1-0-2, Ventimiglia 0-1-1, Williamson 0-1-1, Roche 1-1-3. Totals: 11-5-27; L: Hernandez 5-0-10, Grimes 3-2-8, Baxter 5-0-13, Tobar 3-0-6, Dell’Olio 2-4-8, Lee 0-1-1, Rupeck 2-0-6, Anderson 2-0-4, Terry 1-0-2, Rivers 0- 2-2. Totals: 23-9-60. Three-point goals: L 5 (Baxter 3, Rupeck 2). Jan. 12

Half Hollow Hills West 56, Longwood 54: Pam Robinson (23 points) hit a 15-foot jumper from the baseline with four seconds left for Hills West (7-3) in the seventh-place game. Longwood’s Jeanette Baxter (20 points) tied the score at 54 with 18 seconds to go. Baxter scored 11 points in the quarter to bring Longwood (3-6) back from a 45-30 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter. Allison Machold led all scorers with 24 points for Hills West, including nine during an 18-4 run to open the game.-Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Jan 2001

Floyd 51, Longwood 45: Freshman Melissa D’Amico had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks to lead Floyd. Liz Vitaliano hit a three- pointer with 2:42 left to give Floyd (2-2) a 46-41 lead. Maggie Makofsky had 16 points and 10 assists for Floyd. Jeanette Baxter led Longwood (2-2) with 11 points.-Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Jan 2001:

Longwood 54, Brentwood 43: Jeanette Baxter had 25 points to lead Longwood (3-2). The Lions jumped out to a 29-20 halftime lead and used a 13-7 fourth quarter to break open a five-point game. Carlyshia Hurdle had 15 points for Brentwood (2-3).-Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 20 Jan 2001

Ward Melville 421416-36

Longwood 15112010-56

WM: Haskins 1-0-2, Green 2-0-4, Johnson 0-2-2, Treder 1-0-2, Pawul 0-1-1, Giordano 1-0-2, Durk 1-0-2, Calkins 1-2-5, Loiacano 3-0-6, Nix 3-0-6, Sudano 1-2-4. Totals: 14-7-36; L: Hernandez 5-0-12, Grimes 5- 3-13, Baxter 5-1-13, Dell’Olio 3-0-6, Lee 1-1-3, Rupeck 1-0-2, Anderson 0-2-2, Terry 1-0-3, Brennan 1-0-2. Totals: 22-7-56. Three- point goals: WM 1 (Calkins); L 4 (Baxter 2, Hernandez 2). Jan. 25

Sachem 58, Longwood 53: Toni Horvath scored 25 points to lift Sachem. Jackie Seguin scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half for Sachem (7-1). Jeanette Baxter led Longwood (4-3) with 25 points.-Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 31 Jan 2001

Longwood 15979-40

Smithtown 1421179-61

Smithtown 61, Longwood 40: Allison Wisniewski scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Smithtown in a League I game. Lauren Tartamella had eight assists and seven steals for Smithtown (8-1), which avenged its only league loss this season. Longwood is 4-4.S: Shobin 3-0-7, Grzetic 4-3-11, Oehl 2-1-5, Ratner 1-0-2, Tartamella 3-0-6, Revere 1-1-3, Glenn 2-0-4, Wisniewski 10-3-23. Totals 26-8-61. L: Hernandez 4-0-9, Grimes 2-4-8, Baxter 6-0-15, Tobar 1-0-2, Dellolio 2-2-6. Totals: 15-6-40. Three-point goals: S1 (Shobin); L 4 (Baxter 3, Hernandez). Feb. 2

Longwood 64, Floyd 47: Jeanette Baxter had 19 points and Teelah Grimes added 10 rebounds and seven assists for Longwood (6-4). Liz Vitaliano scored 15 for Floyd (5-5). –Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 10 Feb 2001

Sachem 60, Longwood 43: Liz Rakita had 11 of her 21 points in the first half for Sachem in a Class A quarterfinal. Toni Horvath had nine of her 16 points in the third quarter as Sachem opened a 46-28 lead. Rakita had 10 rebounds and four steals, Horvath six assists and Jackie Seguin 12 rebounds for Sachem (15-4). Teelah Grimes had 12 points for No.10 Longwood (10-10). –Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Feb 2001

Brentwood 1212109-43

Longwood 1119235-58

B: Marquez 2-0-5, Ringle 1-0-2, Mateo 5-0-12, Robinson 1-1-3, Liberato 3-0-6, Hurdle 1-9-11, Barona 2-0-4. Totals: 15-10-43. L: Hernandez 9-0-20, Grimes 5-0-10, Baxter 2-0-6, Tobar 2-0-4, Dell’Olio 2-0-4, Anderson 2-0-4, Terry 1-0-3, Brennan 2-0-4, Legnon1-1-3. Totals: 26-1-58. Three-point goals: B 3 (Mateo 2, Marquez); L 5 (Hernandez 2, Baxter 2, Terry). Feb. 14

Baxter Leads Longwood in OT: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Feb 2001

Jeanette Baxter was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line in overtime as Longwood rallied to a 57-54 win over Ward Melville in League I girls basketball yesterday. Erin Calkins gave Melville a 49-46 lead on a three-pointer to open the overtime. Kristin Giordano tied the score at 46 with 30 seconds on a 16-footer for Ward Melville (5-7), shooting for its first playoff berth in more than 10 years. Nicole Dell’Olio had 25 points for Longwood (8-4). Kristi Nix led Melville with 21 points.

Longwood Trio Has Strong Playoff Start: [SUFFOLK Edition]

John Boell. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 21 Feb 2001

One of the questions entering the Suffolk girls basketball playoffs was if Longwood could defend its Class A title -or even get out of the first round. Westhampton thought it had the answer with senior guards Erin Johnson and Katie Fabian.

But every time Westhampton started to raise questions about Longwood in yesterday’s Suffolk Class A first-round game, the 10th- seeded Lions found answers of their own.

The junior trio of Juanita Hernandez, Teelah Grimes and Jeanette Baxter, which saw significant minutes during the Lions’ championship run a year ago, combined for 55 of Longwood’s points, as the defending champs downed No. 7 Westhampton, 68-54, before a crowd of 350 at Westhampton. Longwood (10-9) travels to No. 2 Sachem tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Hernandez had nine of Longwood’s 19 points in the first quarter and Grimes had 12 of her 18 points in the second and third quarters.

Baxter, Suffolk’s most prolific three-pointer shooter with 50 treys this year, was just 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. But Baxter was 17-for-20 from the free-throw line, including a 12 of 14 stretch in the fourth quarter. She finished with 24 points.

“Jeanette and myself have improved our roles in big games,” said Grimes (18 points, 10 rebounds). “We’ve also tried to get everyone else involved; that’s only going to make us better.”

Especially Hernandez. The forward scored on four of five early trips for Longwood, helping the Lions to a 16-10 lead with under two minutes left in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Westhampton’s Johnson, the Hurricanes’ leading scorer, picked up her third personal foul with 22 seconds left in the quarter.

Still, Westhampton (12-7) opened the second quarter with a 12-3 run with Johnson on the bench, and trailed just 25-22 with 4:20 left. But Longwood closed the half on an 11-2 run, including six points from Baxter and five from Grimes to lead 36-24 at the half.

Westhampton’s comeback hopes weren’t helped when the Hurricanes missed their first eight shots to open the second half. Grimes scored four of Longwood’s first eight points, and the Lions led by 20, 44- 24.

Johnson, who struggled to find her shooting rhythm while skirting foul trouble, missed her first eight shots. The 1,000-point scorer finally broke the skid when she made a layup, was fouled, and hit the ensuing free throw for her first points with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Westhampton got within 57-48 on a Johnson steal and layup with 2:04 left, but Longwood scored 11 of the final 16 points, including Baxter’s 7 of 8 stretch from the line in the final 59 seconds.

“We had to step up on the road,” said Baxter, “and prove ourselves.”

Suffolk Class A Playoffs-First-round game

Sachem 60, Longwood 43: Liz Rakita had 11 of her 21 points in the first half for Sachem in a Class A quarterfinal. Toni Horvath had nine of her 16 points in the third quarter as Sachem opened a 46-28 lead. Rakita had 10 rebounds and four steals, Horvath six assists and Jackie Seguin 12 rebounds for Sachem (15-4). Teelah Grimes had 12 points for No.10 Longwood (10-10). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Feb 2001: