The North Babylon girls’ basketball team has been steadily growing, with an undeniable focus on success.
Thanks to a perfect mix of experienced upperclassmen and talented sophomores, the Bulldogs are locked into first place in the Suffolk County League III standings with a 10-1 record with one game remaining.
As the season progresses, the Bulldogs are feeling more confident, and their expectations have shifted from simply aiming to win the league to now believing they can take home the county championship. “This team has an outrageous amount of potential,” head coach Matt Gianelli said.
One of the key factors in this rise is the leadership of senior guard Jasmine McKay. “Her influence on and off the court has been nothing short of transformative,” said Gianelli. “She has emerged as the heart and soul of the team, consistently setting a tone of hard work and dedication.” She currently leads all of Suffolk County in points per game at 25.1. “Her leadership is contagious and her ability to get everyone involved has been key to our success so far,” Gianelli added.
The Bulldogs have a young roster but that has not slowed them down. The team features nine sophomores on it including key contributors such as forward Olivia Rush, guard Dakota Rivers, forward Molly Oak, and guard Madison Murdocco.
"We’ve seen so much improvement from our younger players," Gianelli said. "They’ve really stepped up and have become vital parts of this group. It’s exciting to see how much better everyone is getting every day." Other key pieces include guard Malia Coakley and forward Kariyana Pernell.
While North Babylon still has a mix of younger and older players, the underclassmen have stepped up and gained confidence as the season has unfolded, the coach noted. The growth of the sophomores, both in terms of individual skill and team dynamics, has given them a depth they hadn’t expected earlier in the year.
From day one, the goal for the Bulldogs has been clear. They want to be county champions.
North Babylon (13-4 overall) went a perfect 7-0 in January with two victories over Smithtown East and one apiece over Copiague, Huntington, Northport, Newfield and Half Hollow Hills East.
McKay had 26 points while Rush and Coakley chipped in 9 apiece Jan. 30 to lead a 52-37 win at Smithtown East.
The renewed confidence is reflected in their intense focus during practices and games. “Every drill is approached with a purpose, every opponent is treated with respect, and every play is a chance to get better,” said Gianelli. "I think our expectations have definitely risen. At the start of the season, we were focused on winning our league, but now we all believe we can win the county. We’re more than capable of doing that, and we’re going to do everything we can to get there."
The county finals are set for March 9 at Farmingdale State College.