Girls Basketball Falls to Baldwin in County Final

The 2010-11 season came to an end for the No. 2 Farmingdale girls basketball team in the game Saturday, as the Dalers fell to top-seeded Baldwin, 39-37, at C.W. Post. Jumping out to an 11-point lead at the end of the first quarter,  could not hold off a tenacious Baldwin Bruins squad.

The first quarter went well for Farmingdale. The Dalers defense was able to fend off the Bruins attack, and hold them to just two field goals. The quarter ended on a steal and eventual lay-up by Nadine Hadnagy, putting the score at 16-5.

The Bruins found their footing in the second quarter, scoring two consecutive buckets, bring the score to 16-9, which led to a quick Farmingdale time out. Meanwhile, the Dalers offensive output began to slow. They scored only six points in the quarter. The Bruins shaved the lead down to six, 22-16.

One could feel the momentum continue to shift, as Baldwin hit the ground running  at the start of the third quarter. Senior guard Keira Corbin hit on a shot, bringing the Bruins to within one basket, 22-20, at the 6:23 mark. Although Farmingdale would respond with a Kelly McPartland score, Baldwin showed they would not be undone, as  junior Alex Hampton brought the Baldwin crowd out of their seats with a three-pointer at the 4:25 mark.  Baldwin then took the lead for the first time in the game, and ended the quarter with Hampton decisively rejecting a Hadnagy shot from near the baseline. The Dalers were down 30-29 heading into the last quarter.

The fourth quarter was tough for the Dalers. The Bruins moved to a three point lead on a Katie Greene shot. Colleen Reynolds responded for Farmingdale with a basket of her own, bringing the score to 32-31 with 6:30 left in the game. There was no scoring for almost four minutes, as both teams were unable to capitalize on turnovers. The Dalers broke the scoring drought on a free-throw by Alexis Panariello, moving them within one point of Baldwin, 33-32, with 2:30 left.

After trading baskets, Colleen Reynolds stole the ball, brought it down court and get fouled with just under 44 seconds left in the game. Her chance to tie and possibly take the lead on the one-and-one however, went awry, and the Dalers were unable to stop Hampton on a driving lay-up on the ensuing possession. Despite a game ending three-pointer from Panariello, the Dalers lost to the Bruins, 39-37.

Heroes: The Daler defense was able to frustrate, discourage and confuse a very strong Baldwin squad for most of the game.

Turning Point: Farmingdale’s dominance eroded throughout the game after the first quarter. Reality began to hit Farmingdale fans after Reynolds, a normally superb free-throw shooter, missed her opportunity with 44 seconds left in the game.

Bottom Line: Farmingdale won 17 games and reached the title game. What more can you ask?

Quotables: “I give Baldwin all the credit in the world right now. They played great defense. They stopped our team more than we did theirs. They made it very difficult for us to run anything,” said Farmingdale coach Pete Cerrone.

“I felt we panicked a little bit at the end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth quarter. We settled down a little [afterwards] but we needed people to score. We had looks, but couldn’t convert. But I give [Baldwin] credit for their defense. Their pressure really wrought havoc with our offense.”

“We got into foul trouble, and [Baldwin] made shots when it counted," he said.

Key Stat:  After taking a 16-5 lead, the Dalers would be outscored by the Bruins 34-21 the rest of the game.