East Meadow Jets

EAST MEADOW

Returning trio to lead Jets

By MARC BERMAN

The coaching staff feels East Meadow could be the most improved boys’ basketball team in Nassau Conference AA-2. It fi nished a disappointing 9-13 overall last winter but still made the playoffs, squeaking in as eighth seed with a late surge. East Meadow head coach Tom Rottkamp is eyeing a reversal of last season’s 9-13 clip, trying to jump to 13-9. “But it will be a challenge,’’ Rottkamp said. The Jets are excited about their three returning starters in shooting guard Frank DeStefano, power forward Manjot Singh and point guard Jayden Henriquez. Though the Jets lost fi ve guys from last season’s squad, their returning starters were regarded as their most talented players in 2021-22. DeStefano averaged 15 points per game last season while Singh posted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). Henriquez is the club’s fl oor general and gets the team into its offense with his high basketball IQ. In addition, East Meadow boasts an intriguing sophomore center in Iziah Richards and a talented small forward in Mazin Ibrihim, who is fast and slashes to the rim. The reserves include senior swingman Eric Whitehurst and senior guard Dominick Squiciarino. Others who could be in the rotation are power forward Brian Surless, guard Jared Schary, guard Shawn Haber and small forward Nabeel Sheikh. The 2021-22 boys’ campaign was a disappointment for the Jets but things are looking a little brighter. Conference opponents for the Jets are defending county and Long Island champion Baldwin, runner-up Plainview, Port Washington, Oceanside, Valley Stream Central, Westbury and Herricks. East Meadow’s playoff push last season included a come-frombehind win over Westbury as well as a victory over VSC in the regular-season fi nale. Henriquez had 17 points in that big win over Westbury, Singh added 16 and DeStefano 13.

EAST MEADOW SEEKS HIGH SEED

East Meadow’s girls’ team lost its star point guard to graduation, but have no fear. Allie Twible is here. The major loss from last season’s 10-7 playoff squad was starting point guard Lindsay Solenski, who averaged 17 points. She’s now at Adelphi playing college lacrosse. It would’ve been a major gap to fi ll, but the Jets are getting back Twible, returning for her sophomore campaign. Twible played for East Meadow in eighth grade before transferring to Holy Trinity last season. “Without a doubt, she’ll be one of the better players in the conference,’’ East Meadow head coach Peter Olenik said. Even better news is Olenik returns four starters from last season’s club, making it a mortal lock for its ninth straight Class AA playoff berth. Nobody would be surprised if East Meadow places second behind superpower Baldwin. “Baldwin is Baldwin,’’ Olenik said. “They’re one of the best teams in the state, never mind just Nassau County. I don’t see us being as good as they are, but I do see us making the playoffs and getting a pretty decent seed.’’ The Jets are stacked at guard and will use a three-guard starting alignment. “Sometimes four,’’ Olenik said. Of the returning starters, junior shooting guard Charlotte Viola is the standout. She’s a sweet shooter and, as Olenik says, “a good all-around basketball player who can play a little point.’’ “I’m expecting big things out of her,’’ Olenik added. “She was All-Conference last year and I see her as All-County this year.’’ Junior Brook Vislocki is the third guard. The frontcourt is manned by its tallest player, 5-foot-9, Emily Forrler, and senior forward Isabella Pota. Keziah Philip will come in to provide a four-guard attack. However, this squad’s strength is not its long bench. But the starting quintet could be dangerous. “We could be 2, 3 or 4 seed,’’ Olenik said. “I don’t see us being less than 4.’’

Jayden Henriquez

Viola is the standout. She’s a sweet not its long bench. But the starting

It would’ve been a major gap to fi ll, but the Jets are getting back Twible, returning for her sophomore campaign. Twible played for East Meadow in eighth grade before transferring to Holy Trinity last season. “Without a doubt, she’ll be one of the better players in the conference,’’ East Meadow head coach Peter Charlotte Viola Even better news is Olenik returns four starters from last season’s club, making it said. “I don’t see us being less

Schedule BOYS December

14 Plainview 7:00 p.m. 17 Herricks 12:00 p.m. 21 @ Westbury 7:00 p.m.

January

3 Oceanside 7:00 p.m. 6 @ V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 11 Port Washington 7:00 p.m. 14 @ Baldwin 12:00 p.m. 17 @ Plainview 7:00 p.m. 20 @ Herricks 7:00 p.m. 28 Westbury 12:00 p.m. 31 @ Oceanside 7:00 p.m.

February

3 V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 8 @ Port Washington 7:00 p.m. 11 Baldwin 12:00 p.m.

GIRLS December

14 @ Plainview 6:45 p.m. 17 @ Herricks 12:00 p.m. 21 Westbury 7:00 p.m.

January

3 @ Oceanside 7:00 p.m. 6 V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Port Washington 7:00 p.m. 14 Baldwin 12:00 p.m. 17 Plainview 7:00 p.m. 20 Herricks 7:00 p.m. 28 @ Westbury 12:00 p.m. 31 Oceanside 7:00 p.m.

February

3 @ V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 8 Port Washington 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Baldwin 12:00 p.m.