Marte’s 32 Points Gives Richmond Hill

A Much-Needed Win
BY ZACHARY BRAZILLER
The PSAL B League’s new schedule includes cross-over games that match teams based on their finish the previous season. For Richmond Hill, the Queens II-B defending champions, having to play the other two division winners twice each, was an arduous task.
With two of their most imposing inside players having moved on to college, the Lions are a work in progress. They dropped their second game of the year to Flushing, Queens III-B champions, and lost two of their last three to opponents within their own division.
With that in mind, Richmond Hill would’ve rather faced a team from the bottom of the league rather than traveling to perennial power Martin Van Buren in another cross-over match-up.
Instead of lamenting their luck, however, the Lions earned their finest victory of the young season, 61-53, over the Vee Bees.
“We’ve started off real slow,” Richmond Hill Coach Shep Grazioli said. “Even in our scrimmages, it was like we were going through the motions. This was an important win for us.”
As usual, it was Helin Marte, one of three remaining starters, who led the way. The 5-foot-6 point guard scored 32 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out six assists.
“I love to watch this kid play,” praised Martin Van Buren Coach Michael McClain. “She just takes the ball and she goes.”
Sophomore Nickia Witherspoon led the Vee Bees (7-4, 6-2 Queens I-B) with 20 points and junior Samantha Johnson added 17.
Although Marte, a senior and four-year starter, provided the means for the victory, it was her supporting cast that propelled the Lions (6-3, 5-3 Queens II-B).
In their three defeats, Marte accounted for nearly 66% percent of the scoring. While she still produced another 30 point-plus performance, Zaconja Bethea, Amy Ayala and Luan Andrews each scored nine points.
Ayala, in fact, had the biggest basket of the game, a long jumper from the left wing with a little over a minute remaining that pushed a three-point lead to five. Ayala and Andrews also combined for 20 rebounds.
“We’re getting used to each other,” Marte said. “My teammates are starting to shoot the ball better.”