Baldwin captures L.I. championship

With its 13-point lead nearly evaporated, putting Baldwin in danger of falling short in the Long Island Class AA girls’ basketball championship game for a third straight season, the Lady Bruins shifted into overdrive.

After Central Islip got within a point late in the third quarter, Baldwin ripped off 25 of the last 26 points to pull away for a resounding 56-31 victory Saturday before a jam-packed crowd at SUNY-Old Westbury. Junior Aziah Hudson scored 11 straight points during the decisive run and finished with a game-high 22, junior Jenna Annecchiarico had 12 points and 7 steals, and sophomore Kaia Harrison added 10 points.

“It got a little too close, but we were determined to win,” said Baldwin senior Sarah Pulis, who dominated in the paint with 15 rebounds and a handful of blocks. “It’s such an awesome feeling,” she added. “We didn’t want to let this opportunity slip away.”

The Lady Bruins, who fell to Commack in the past two L.I. title games, improved to 19-3 and advanced to the state Final Four in Troy. They’ve never played in a state final but already have a win over four-time defending champion Ossining this season and wouldn’t mind a rematch next weekend.

“I’m tremendously proud,” Baldwin head coach Tom Catapano said. “It’s been a long two years with difficult endings. I felt like we were in good shape all day because we were defending really well, but give Central Islip credit for coming back on us twice.

“Our offense got hot late in the third quarter and carried it over into the fourth,” he added. “We’re a different team when we’re hitting shots.”

Central Islip (22-3), which dethroned Commack in the Suffolk Class AA final, got 13 points from Anhya Jenkins and 8 from Chanel Taylor. The Lady Musketeers managed only a Taylor free throw over the final 9:22 after getting within 31-30 late in the third quarter on a trey by Myha Lombert.