Hampton, Greene assure Baldwin 'AA' title

Baldwin called a timeout with 28 seconds left, clinging to a one-point lead. The Bruins had a designed play, but it was quickly foiled since Baldwin was anticipating Farmingdale being in a zone and instead the Dalers were in man.

Point guard Alex Hampton then went to Plan B. She took advantage of a screen set by Katie Greene at the top of the key and saw nothing but space to the basket. Hampton drove in for a layup with 18 seconds left, a critical two points as top-seeded Baldwin held off No. 2 Farmingdale, 39-37, Saturday in the Nassau Class AA girls basketball championship game. It was the second consecutive title for Baldwin (19-1).

Greene scored 13 points, Keira Corbin had 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals, Hampton had 10 points, six rebounds, and three steals, and Janae DeGraff added 10 rebounds for the Bruins.

"I saw a lane and my mind said just go for it," Hampton said of the basket that made it 37-34.

"Once the shot clock went under 10 seconds it was a high ball screen for Hampton," Baldwin coach Tom Catapano said. "She's been on varsity since eighth grade and she was a player. She went to the rim and finished it. She's what makes this team go."

Farmingdale's Kelly McPartland (nine points) got a good look on a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, but the ball bounced off the back rim with nine seconds left. Greene then went 2-for-2 from the free throw line with seven seconds left to push the lead to 39-34.

"I just took a deep breath," Greene said. "I knew I had to make them to shut the door in the game and seal the win."

SEE PHOTOSBaldwin 39, Farmingdale 37

Alexis Panariello (10 points) hit a three-pointer with less than a second left to cap the scoring.

Baldwin trailed at halftime for just the second time this season. The other time came in a 75-40 loss to Ossining. The Bruins usually don't give up easy baskets yet Farmingdale (18-2) faced little resistance in the first quarter, taking a 16-5 lead and led 22-16 at the half.

"We were a little off in the beginning," Corbin said. "We brought our energy in the second half and stayed confident."

The speedy Corbin hauled in a defensive rebound and went end-to-end for a layup with 1:25 left in the third quarter to cap a 14-4 run that gave Baldwin a 30-26 lead.

"Our shots didn't fall and we were playing hard," Catapano said of the first half. "We knew it was a matter of time. Farmingdale did a great job. They have great athletes and a great coach. We found a way to win."

Baldwin will play Deer Park in the Southeast Regional final/Long Island Class AA championship at 8 p.m. Friday at Hofstra.

"Any ending with a win is great," Hampton said. "I don't care how we got it. We just really played together as a team and that's what matters."