Baldwin Bruins

BALDWIN

Bruins set to defend title

By TONY BELLISSIMO

The Bruins were hit hard by graduation as 12 members of last season’s Nassau and Long Island Class AA boys’ basketball championship team departed, leaving just three returnees. “We’re very inexperienced but these kids play year-round and it’s just a matter of jelling and improving every day,” head coach Darius Burton said. “We’re in a competitive conference and Class AA is as deep as it’s been in a long time. Every game will be tough.” Baldwin’s most accomplished returnee is senior Joshua Petion, an All-Conference selection who averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds last winter. He’s 6-foot-3 and the starting center. “We’ll be counting on Joshua for a double-double every night,” Burton said. “He can fi nish around the basket and guard anyone.” Senior Jaylen Brown assumes a starting role after bringing a spark off the bench. Burton believes he’s one of the best outside shooters in the county and will pick up some of the scoring slack lost off last season’s roster. Senior guard Dylan Madden, a captain along with Petion and Brown, can play either backcourt spot and checks a lot of the skill boxes, Burton noted. Either madden or talented Peyton Howell, the fi rst eighth-grader on a Burtoncoached team in 22 years, will run the show from the point. Howell was the MVP of the Hempstead Summer League and a standout on the AAU circuit as well. “He’s such a poised player for his age,” Burton said. “He has outstanding control of the ball, scores and defends.” Senior guard David Polonia is a consistent perimeter threat who’ll help the Bruins stretch defenses. Sophomore guard Jalen Waters, a JV starter last winter, has displayed a strong two-way game and projects to be among the starting fi ve. Juniors Shane Mauldin and Myles Austin, as well as sophomore Chase Timberlake, will also contribute.

RARE ADVERSITY HITS BALDWIN

Baldwin’s girls program hasn’t faced much adversity over the past decade and enters the 2022-23 campaign looking for an unprecedented ninth consecutive county championship. However, the Lady Bruins will likely need to get it done without their All-State center and also an All-Long Island shooting guard as senior Dallysshya Moreno and Renelle Grannum suffered torn ACL’s during the offseason. Moreno, a dominant post player headed to Stony Brook University, averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds last winter and put up 24 and 20, respectively, in the state semifi nal victory over CiceroNorth Syracuse. “Dally is obviously a D1 talent who does it all,” Baldwin head coach Tom Catapano said of Moreno, who was injured during a summer league game in July. Grannum, hurt in a travel game in May, was arguably the team’s best player down the stretch last season and led it with 16 points in the Long Island Class AA championship game win over Longwood. “She’s incredible at both ends of the fl oor and fi lls the stat sheet,” Catapano said. A third standout, All-County point guard Katelyn Simpson, could return before the calendar fl ips to January but has been sidelined by a dislocated kneecap. The senior shutdown defender and facilitator is someone who makes everyone else around her better, Catapano said. Sophomore guard Payton Dulin will need to take on some more of the scoring workload with Moreno and Grannum out. She burst onto the scene last season and started all 25 games, earning All-County honors. Sophomore Toni Smith moves into the starting lineup at forward and is a breakout candidate, Catapano said. Sophomore Madison Guillory will also assume a larger role in the frontcourt. Another sophomore, guard Monique Echols, sets the defensive tone along with Simpson. Freshman Alyssa Polonia and eighthgrader Chinaya Okogeri will also contribute. “We just have to work and grow every day,” said Catapano, who expects Massapequa, Syosset and Port Washington to pose the biggest threats.

Joshua Petion

outstanding control of the ball, scores and defends.” Senior guard David Polonia is a consistent perimeter threat who’ll help the Bruins stretch defenses. Sophomore guard Jalen Waters, a JV Timberlake, will also contribute.

Baldwin’s girls program hasn’t faced much

Katelyn Simpson

Schedule

BOYS December

14 @ V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. MATT GUILFOYLE 17 Port Washington 12:00 p.m. 21 @ Oceanside 7:00 p.m.

January

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

February

3 Westbury 7:00 p.m. 8 Plainview 7:00 p.m. 11 @ East Maadow 12:00 p.m.

GIRLS December

14 V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 17 @ Port Washington 12:00 p.m. 21 Oceanside 7:00 p.m.

January

3 @ Herricks 7:00 p.m. 6 Westbury 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Plainview 6:45 p.m. 14 @ East Meadow 12:00 p.m. 17 @ V.S. Central 7:00 p.m. 19 Port Washington 7:00 p.m. 30 @ Oceanside 7:00 p.m. 31 Herricks 7:00 p.m.

February

3 @ Westbury 7:00 p.m. 8 Plainview 7:00 p.m. 11 East Maadow 12:00 p.m.