By:Andrew McClure
For the seventh straight week, the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls' Sports (NYSSCOGS) ranked the Lady Rocks as the state's top Class C public school team.
It's no surprise to those familiar with the program, that the core of the team, which has been playing together since the third grade, has two Long Island championships and an appearance in the state finals on their resume. Since the 2002-03 season, they've compiled a stellar 48-9 record and are currently riding a 13-game winning streak.
But don't think for a minute that the girls are satisfied with their accomplishments. "When we went to the state finals in 2003, we weren't expected to go that far," said junior guard Meri Levison, the Rocks' leading scorer. "While we know we're not supposed to look past the next game on the schedule, we have big expectations."
Levison, who leads Long Island with 34 three-point baskets this season, is drawing early attention from college programs. With a grade-point-average that places her in the top five of her class, Ivy League schools such as Cornell and Penn have expressed interest. Levison attributes her success to a summer regime like no other. "Monday through Friday, three hours each morning in Valley Stream Park ... ," Levison explains. "[I] usually warm-up with a mile or so ... then, it's a workout that includes shooting about 500 shots, ball handling drills and different moves ... and then, at night, we have our summer league games."
"Meri has come of age," East Rockaway coach Karin Leary said. "She's matured - she's become more confident in herself and has grown more accustomed to the role of scorer."
Leary, whose .690 winning percentage is the best in school history, points to the way the team carries itself as the biggest attribute. "The girls are all good friends - they're such an easy going bunch," Leary said. "There are no cliques, so regardless of their grade or interests, they're all part of the group."
The team regularly gets together for pasta parties, movies, hang outs or to babysit for assistant coach Tim O'Hagan's two girls. O'Hagan, who was the head coach of Long Island's gold medal winning Empire State Games' girls' basketball team in 2004, considers the group to be far more than just a team. "These girls are an extension of my family," O'Hagan said. "I trust them to care for my little girls. Basketball is just a small part of the relationship."
On the court, if the first option is Levison, a close second is junior forward Brittany Fuller, who is averaging 15 points-per-game. Fuller, an all-state performer for the Rocks' four-time Long Island championship volleyball team, has a knack for scoring and runs the floor as well as any forward in the county.
The one-two punch of Levison and Fuller have left opposing coaches scratching their heads as the undefeated Rocks prepare for the stretch, in a quest for school's first state title.
Other key components are junior point guard Jackie Marinazzo and junior forward Sarah D'Archangelis. While you may not see Marinazzo's name in the box score, she is the perfect point guard for this team. Her role is to distribute the ball and play strong defense. D'Archangelis does all the little things and always seems to come up huge in big games. Their coaches do not underestimate their efforts. "Jacqueline often sets the tone," O'Hagan said. "Her unselfishness epitomizes the makeup of the team. We look for Meri and Brittany to score, but it's girls like Jackie and Sarah who do a lot of the behind the scene stuff. Jackie runs the offense, and Sarah is the nuts and bolts of the operation. The two of them are the type that are constantly diving for loose balls, making good passes or setting screens."
Just watching this team practice leaves one thinking that they have every right to set lofty goals. The spirit they exhibit, like poetry, is hard to define but easy to recognize. Their concentration and hard work screams of pride and preparation. Their attention to detail brings to mind an old motto: one team, one dream, one season, one reason.
Over the next few months these young ladies, representing the smallest school in Nassau County, have the opportunity to make a little more history.
It's time to shut off the lousy Knicks and come out to watch the best game in town.
