Elmont rolling as playoffs near

All has gone well for the Elmont girls’ basketball team.
At 12-6 overall following a 61-29 home win over Conference AA-2 foe Carey last Friday afternoon, the Spartans sit comfortably with just two games remaining on their schedule. However, comfort won’t do much good in the Nassau County Class A playoffs, head coach Pete Lawson says.
“They’re just having fun, but I’m like, ‘Let’s get at least a couple more,’ then we can smile and have some fun,” Lawson said. “I’m happy that they’re having fun, but this could really be fun if we were to extend the winning and go far in the playoffs.”
Sophia Manchoon (17), Kayla Latiff (16) and Charlotte Hines (14) all scored in double figures in Elmont’s victory over Carey. It was the Spartans’ 11th win in their last 13 games.
With the playoffs just around the corner, Lawson is digging in and isn’t allowing any detail to go overlooked.

“You really have to be detailed and thorough,” Lawson said. “It’s turning the sheet of paper once in a while instead of skimming the page. The girls are understanding to go on a winning streak that it’s going to take what it has to take. They’re not going to complain about getting home later. They’re willing to accept the fact that this is what it takes. We’ll stay the extra hour and go home later.”
Lawson’s demanding style plays perfectly for Cassidy Grannum. With a relentless attitude on and off the floor, the senior guard is Elmont’s heart and soul.
“It’s a good thing when you annoy the coach with a lot of questions because she’s very detail-oriented,” Lawson said. “Whether it’s games, practice, pickups, mentorship or going to 7-Eleven to get snacks, she is on it. She has qualities that are going to transfer over to life.
“She wants to guard the [best] girl on the team. With the work in so many areas, I told her, based on her effort, her energy is going to win games for us. She has been doing it even though it doesn’t show up in the stats. She’s very key and instrumental in all our games.”
The approach from Lawson has also awoken Kaitlyn Paulino. A seldom-used player last season, the junior has made herself into a key piece in the rotation.
“Kaitlyn Paulino, to me, is one of the biggest success stories of this team,” Lawson said “She’s shown what hard work really means and what being a part of a team means. I can’t take her off the court. Her energy, intensity and skill are needed. For the rest of this season and the playoffs, you’re going to be talking more about her.”
Although their final two games both come against opponents beneath them in the standings in Great Neck North and Calhoun, Lawson is wary of the Spartans falling into a potential trap.
He wants to use the final matchups to fortify everything Elmont has worked for this year as it rolls into the playoffs.
“I try to sell the girls on believing in themselves,” Lawson said. “To be a special player or a special team, it takes more than just techniques. It takes confidence.”