Since they were freshmen, expectations were high for Patrice Lewis and Krystina Agard. The two began producing right away and led August Martin to the second round of the playoffs. Last season’s 4-10 mark was a step back. Now, finally upperclassmen, Agard and Lewis are expected to not only lead but also deliver offensively.
“You have to want to be good real bad,” August Martin Coach Joel Ascher said. “I saw a lot of signs of that last year [in them] and hopefully we’ll see more this year.”
Lewis did lead Queens AA in scoring at 21 points per game last year, while averaging over 10 rebounds a game. “I think she’ll be the best shooter in Queens,” Ascher said. “Best player? It is how hard she wants to work. She’ll set her own limits.”
Lewis and Agard, a quick point guard who averaged over 16 points, five rebounds and three assists, aren’t alone. Returning is the lone senior, guard Shaniqua Hicks, 6-foot center Tenille Smallwood and 5-foot-8 forward Latoya Griffith. Freshmen wings Starasia Lawley and Jahcilia Amajie will also contribute as will sophomore guard Tinamarie Sasser, a 5-foot-9 wing who was previously ineligible.
“I’m pretty optimistic,” Ascher said. “I’m pleased with what we’ve got.”
Contrary to preseason predictions, Francis Lewis won their seventh consecutive Queens title last season. It was the first time in a decade they were not a legitimate city championship contender, thanks to the graduation in recent years of top-flight Division 1 athletes Vionca Murray (Virginia Tech, now Syracuse), Diatiema Hill (UMass) and Jasmin Lawrence (James Madison). The Patriots still reigned supreme in the borough and made it to the PSAL ‘AA’ quarterfinals because of the play of dynamic senior point guard Sylvia Davis and talented yet undersized wings Andree De Leon and Margaret Elenis.
Those three return to form a quick, albeit small, lineup that is actually downsized. Last year’s 5-foot-8 center, Michele Runko, graduated, as did other frontcourt contributors Monique Broushet and Frances Arminio.
Optimism remains, however, because of the additions of speedy guards Jane Walsh, Tatiana Wilson, Julie Torres and Elizabeth Venegas.
“We’re going to play with no centers this year,” Francis Lewis Coach Mike Eisenberg said. “We’ll play two guards, three guards, four guards; maybe three and a couple of small forwards…. So rebounding is going to be tough and matching up inside is going to be tough. We want to press, shoot some 3-pointers, run and hope for the best.”
Similar to Lewis, Cardozo is looking to take advantage of the opposition in transition. Four-year starting center Adenike Oyesile is at St. Peter’s, replaced by 5-foot-10 senior pivot Octavia Gooden, and shooting guard Lekesha Harris is at Adelphi.
Also gone from last year’s team is point guard Nikita Green, replaced by returning senior Nicole Garzon. Cardozo Coach Larry Carradine is relying on several youngsters, hoping sophomore CiCi Palmer, a returning starter, can fill the void in the backcourt. He also likes Danielle LeBlanc, a 5-foot-8 forward, and another talented sophomore, Samantha Mersten, in addition to sophomore point guard Jade Medley and freshmen Susan Kang and Jackie Barillas.
“We’re going to be a decent team,” Carradine said. “We will be competitive. As the year goes on, we’ll get better.”
