“It’s all about the team,” said Coach Stan Bujacich. When reflecting on the season, he had nothing but positivity towards the girls on the Wantagh Girls’ Varsity Basketball team.
Many of the players on the team this year are proving their excellence on the court. This year, one of the all-star players was unable to play, Kaleigh Craig, senior, has been recovering from a torn ACL. This prospective Northwestern student has managed the team and kept the morale up. She has remained part of the team and through her recovery has supported her teammates.
Wantagh beat out South Side with a 42-35 final score, January 31. Tara Basile, senior, hit a three-pointer with a minute left to push Wantagh forward on the scoreboard. Demi Valenti, junior, had 12 points total, 8 of which were in the first half of the game. This and her added five steals plunged Wantagh (6-1) in Conference A-1.
The Warriors crushed New Hyde Park 57-31. Freshman, Alex Parlato, has demonstrated her immense talent on the court this season. In this game, she had a career-high of 24 points, along with 16 rebounds. Christina Peden, also a freshman, added 11 points to the overall score. Peden, had a 14 point total in the game against Malverne, 53-29. Alex Parlato had 11 rebounds. Demi Valenti scored 8 of her 9 points in the first half, showing obvious talent. This was the first round of the Freeport Tournament.
Coach Bujacich calls his team a family. These girls spend hours at grueling practices. The varying ages prove to not be a problem for the team bonding. The seniors will be missed once the season ends, but the team has an unbreakable spirit. Brenna Smith, Tara Basile, Shannon McDonald, and Michelle Buccheri, have all boosted morale and the team’s standings. The team is currently tied with Garden City in the A-1 Conference. Wantagh figures to be a high seed in the playoffs and will hopefully make a run toward the county championship.