Repeat county title for Baldwin

Two years after Baldwin celebrated a county title, the joy was short-lived due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that ultimately canceled the Long Island Class AA finals a week later.
The Bruins will now get their long-awaited opportunity to play for L.I. supremacy and a trip to the state championships after a 55-44 victory against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK in  Saturday night’s Nassau AA title game at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex. The celebration was that much more meaningful after there were no playoffs held during last year’s truncated season in which Baldwin was limited to just four games due to the pandemic.
“This is my seventh county championship, but this one is special because of COVID and what these kids have been through for the past two years,” said longtime Baldwin head coach Darius Burton. “They worked their butt off with the masks in the gym and they just believed right from the beginning.”
The county crown advances Baldwin to this Saturday’s Long Island Class AA championship against Half Hollow Hills East back at Hofstra for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. Baldwin has now won six of the last 10 Nassau Class AA titles.
“It makes it extra special,” said Baldwin senior center Jacob Oka of winning a county title after not having a chance to compete in the postseason last year during his first year on varsity. “It gave us even more motivation.”

Baldwin (21-1) seized control early in jumping out to a 26-14 halftime lead and led by as many as 19 in the third quarter. After seven straight JFK points cut the lead to 42-34 with five minutes left, the Bruins stepped up out of a timeout beginning with a Gerrard Beaubrun put-back off a missed three pointer followed by a Joshua Petion fastbreak layup as part of a game-ending 13-2 run.
Oka had a monster all-around game in the paint with 12 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Petition also had 12 points while senior guard Jamir Stewart recorded 10 as part of Baldwin's balanced scoring effort. Kadeem Ramsay and Beaubrun each netted eight.
“They have bought in all season that it’s not about our leading scorer and that we do this collectively,” Burton said. “That is why I think it is hard to prepare for us.”
A strout defense also keyed the county title with Baldwin limited JFK to just six field goals in the first half. Saturday marked the 15th time this season the Bruins have held an opponent under 50 points. Baldwin defeated the Hawks in two regular-season meetings by 50-42 and 59-41 scores.
Baldwin will next look to capture the program’s first L.I. crown since 2016 against Half Hollow Hills East, a team the Bruins knocked off 70-55 in a non-league matchup Jan. 16. The Bruins have had a nearly unblemished record this season with their only loss coming at hands of New York City catholic power Saint. Joseph by the Sea, 56-49 on Jan. 6.
Riding a 15-game winning streak, Baldwin will next look to earn the Long Island championship it missed out battling for in 2020. Oka, a senior captain, said the team has far bigger goals though which would involve capturing the school’s first ever state championship.
“The goal is states and winning it all,” Oka said. “This is just the beginning.”