Brozoski leads Lutheran past Poly Prep
Three Long Island Lutheran players, including Boogie Brozoski, far right, force a turnover by Poly Prep's Kayla Metelenis. (Jan. 24, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Boogie Brozoski was pulled during the first half of yesterday's game for trying to execute a behind-the-back pass. After getting an earful from Long Island Lutheran coach Rich Slater, the message seeped through.
Brozoski settled down and instead of pouting like some 13-year-olds might, the 5-3 eighth-grade point guard showed maturity beyond her years and put her array of talent on display. Brozoski scored 11 of her 12 points in a pivotal third quarter to lift Long Island Lutheran to a 52-39 win over host Poly Prep in a non-league girls basketball game. It was the first loss of the season for Poly Prep (8-1).
"I wasn't thinking at the moment," she said of the flashy pass. "We needed that basket and I know I need to be smarter."
Brozoski hit a three-pointer and after Katie Friel hit a three-pointer for Poly Prep, Brozoski hit another three to tie the score at 28 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
Sade Gibbons hit two free throws to give Long Island Lutheran (9-4) a 30-28 lead and Brozoski forced a steal and scored on a layup. Kada Nicholas got a steal and a basket and Brozoski capped a 12-0 run with a three-pointer, giving the Crusaders a 37-28 lead.
"I was in the zone," Brozoski said. "I put everything aside and played. I saw teammates open and got them the ball. When I was open, I shot the ball."
It was the defense that spurred the second-half charge. The Crusaders forced nine turnovers in the third quarter for an 18-8 scoring advantage in the period and held Poly Prep without a field goal for seven minutes in the final quarter.
"We were taking the first shot in the first half," said Christina Raiti, who had 10 points for the Crusaders. "We needed to get into a rhythm and it all started on defense. Once we got some stops, it rolled into the offense."
Poly Prep cut it to five in the fourth quarter, but Sam Milhaven went 1-for-2 from the foul line, drove to the basket and dished to Raiti for a three-pointer and Brozoski got a steal and fed Paige Kriftcher (10 points) for a fast-break layup and a 44-33 lead with 4:37 left in the game.
"To have an eighth-grader as a point guard like that is amazing," Raiti said. "She gets everyone started. She's developed incredibly. From the first game until now, it's completely different. Her court awareness has become so much better. I know she'll set me up for great shots."
Brozoski's given name is Lauren, but no one calls her that. Ask for Lauren and you might get a puzzled look. She said the nickname stems from her dad, Owen, who said her game reminds him of someone he saw play named "L Boogie" and it has stuck.
"She is still so young," Slater said, "but she's a great kid."
'It's depressing, it's frustrating' A Newsday investigation revealed that Grumman Aerospace knew toxic chemicals were leaking into the ground in Bethpage. Newsday Associate Editor Paul LaRocco and Deputy Editor David Schwartz explain.
'It's depressing, it's frustrating' A Newsday investigation revealed that Grumman Aerospace knew toxic chemicals were leaking into the ground in Bethpage. Newsday Associate Editor Paul LaRocco and Deputy Editor David Schwartz explain.
