Defense has largely carried the way for the Baldwin boys basketball team early in the 2025-26 season while battling adversity.
Despite some key injuries, the Bruins are off to a 6-2 start clawing their way to wins by holding opponents to under 45 points in four games.
“We have a next-man-up mentality and defense is always a key focus,” said longtime head coach Darious Burton. “We take pride in getting stops and our best offense is our defense.”
Baldwin’s defensive prowess was on full display in a 38-28 win at Uniondale on Jan. 3 in which the Bruins held the Knights to just 11 points in the first half. The Bruins were paced offensively from 15 points by Ethan Sainsbury and 13 from Rian Gittens.
The Bruins followed up the Uniondale victory with a narrow 53-50 loss Jan. 7 against Westbury, which entered the game scoring 60 points or more in six of its seven games. Baldwin then blew by Oceanside last Saturday in a 78-51 victory featuring 15 points from senior Jordan Williams.
The stout defense has been a collective effort largely led by Sainsbury, who leads the team in steals. Williams and junior Mical Saint Jean have also been routinely playing lock-down defense on the opposing teams’ most explosive players.
Sainsbury shined on both ends of the court in a 47-38 victory against Elmont on Dec. 30 in the Chanee Brown Holiday Tournament with five points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
“He is arguably the best point guard in the county,” Burton said of Sainsbury, who was named MVP of the holiday tournament. “He is quick and creates havoc on the defensive end and runs the show on the offensive end.”
Williams also had a solid all-around game against Elmont with 14 points and six rebounds.
Mical Saint Jean also reached double figures with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Saint Jean suffered an ankle injury in practice on Jan. 2 that will sideline him for about another week. The Bruins also were faced with season-ending ACL injuries suffered in the preseason to big men Gabriel Phillips and Dylan Cudjoe, who were expected to give Baldwin a major advantage in the paint this winter.
With key pieces unavailable, Burton has utilized strong depth on his roster to use a deep bench to keep players focused to continue playing at a high level.
“These kids work their butt off every day in practice and they all know if they aren’t performing I’ll go with somebody else,” Burton said. “It makes practices competitive and fun since kids know they will have an opportunity if they do what they are supposed to do.”
Baldwin will visit East Meadow this Thursday for a 6:45 p.m. tipoff. The Bruins’ next home game is scheduled for Jan. 23 against Academy Charter School at 7 p.m.
