Team to Watch: Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs

SULLIVAN WEST JOURNALISM CLASS
Posted 8/21/12

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The Sullivan West varsity girls’ basketball team celebrated its sixth victory on the evening of Thursday, January 7, in a close game against Roscoe, with a score of 42-36. …

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Team to Watch: Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs

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LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The Sullivan West varsity girls’ basketball team celebrated its sixth victory on the evening of Thursday, January 7, in a close game against Roscoe, with a score of 42-36. The win put the Lady Bulldogs’ record this season at 6-4 as of January 8.

This season’s success is particularly important to senior players Brianna Bryant (2), Bianca Burgos (34), Elaine Durkin (20), Chyenne Gaebel (24), Heather Maxwell (21), Paige Olsen (5) and Alexa Santoro (10). They are hoping to earn a spot at sectionals in their last season of high school basketball.

What is contributing to the team’s success this year? Players attribute it to their teamwork and long-lasting friendships. Gaebel says, “This year’s team cooperation is very good. We’ve all been playing with each other for years as well as [having] known each other, which definitely contributes to our great cooperation.” Burgos agrees. She says, “We’re all really good friends. We look out for each other on and off the court. It’s like one big family.”

Team players agree that Coach Patrick Donovan is a big part of this team’s drive to succeed. In his sixth season coaching the girls, Donovan continues to teach the players to grow not only as athletes, but also as people through his rigorous coaching style. “Mr. Donovan has always been a relatively strict coach. It pushes us to want to be better and do well. It also teaches us about the real world. Things such as not being late to something important—in our case, practice,” says Burgos.

This year, the district, as well as Coach Donovan, have noticed the team’s blossoming identity throughout the basketball community as fierce competitors. Could it be the large population of talented seniors participating this season, or possibly a change in style and ethics?

The past few games have highlighted some key players on the team. According to Donovan, Brianna Bryant is one of the strong assets contributing to their recent victories. In their Thursday night win against the Roscoe Lady Devils, Bryant scored 20 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

Despite recent success on the court, the players realize that tough opponents allow for further growth. They agree that their most difficult competitors this season have been Livingston Manor, Delhi and Eldred. The games against Florida on Tuesday, January 19 [still upcoming as of press day] and Tri-Valley on Thursday, January 21 at Lake Huntington have Bulldogs fans watching the girls closely. Chances of achieving their goal of making it to this year’s sectionals have proven to be great and the stakes are high. “We have a tough non-league schedule coming up and a very difficult division,” said Donovan.

As for the prospect for seasons to come, Maxwell believes that it is looking bright. “Hopefully the Sullivan West girls’ basketball team continues to go up from here. We’re just playing as hard as we can before we graduate. It helps the girls to gain experience.” With five junior players, there is an opportunity for another strong season. Donovan says, “Our younger players are playing well and contributing a great deal to the team.”

Bryant is optimistic. “I feel like this year’s season started off very well. We are pushing ourselves to sectionals. Although some games are more competitive than others, we are still striving to get where we want to be.”

[Members of the Sullivan West journalism class are Jessica Bellotti, Madison Berlingeri, Dylan Ginty, Leif Johansen, Jeremy Nevin-Gales and Camille Sensiba. They will be writing more articles for us in weeks to come—stay tuned!]

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