By Joseph Staszewski
Scholars Academy celebrated more than a city championship when it charged the court at St. Francis College.
The top-seeded Seawolves, won their third straight PSAL Class B girls’ basketball crown 58-35 over No. 18 and division rival Jamaica Sunday. They did so representing themselves, their school and the resilient nature of the Rockaway community, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
“It was such a situation with Sandy,” sophomore Emma Michaels said. “Rockaway, we were hit really, really hard.”
The Scholars players were displaced from their homes and forced to travel to William Maxwell in Brooklyn in the months following the storm after their own school was severely damaged. The Seawolves’ season began with their having to postpone their first six games and play up to three games a week. The girls just pushed through.
“Since most of us were relocated, our school was relocated, it was hard to practice together and have a stable environment,” said junior Jessica Glaz, who scored 19 points and earned MVP honors. “It feels great and it’s really awesome to win for Rockaway.”
Scholars Coach Jeff Attard, who along with John Coscia and Kerri Hubbard replaced Janet Kleiner before the playoffs, believes this team has a never-say-die attitude and closeness that shows on the court. It was apparent during a game-changing 18-2 run during the second and third quarters.
The spurt, highlighted by ball movement and hot shooting, pushed a six-point advantage to 35-13 with six minutes left in the third quarter. Michaels scored 15 points and Taylor Gallagher added 11 for Scholars, which advances to face CHSAA winner Cardinal O’Hara (Buffalo) in the state Federation semifinals at the Times Union Center in Albany March 23.
“They have such a chemistry; that’s hard to teach,” Attard said.
Albany is where Scholars (28-0) wants to take its success to the next level. The Seawolves are winless in their two Federation tournament games, and they would like to change that.
“We know how to play together,” Glaz said. “We are confident we will do great.”
Just making it to the title game brought Jamaica (16-6), who was led by Laquasia Berry’s 19 points, to where it’s never been before. Beavers Coach Stephen Heiss knew beating Scholars was a tall task, but was pleased with what his team achieved.
“We had a nice run to get here,” Heiss said. “It’s disappointing not to be able to finish it off, but Scholars is a great team.”
