Simpson steps up for North Babylon girls

With Bria Hartley at UConn, there's a different look this season for the North Babylon girls basketball team. The Bulldogs are relying on a plethora of young players. Eight are sophomores or younger, with two freshmen and an eighth grader starting. There also is a new coach.

One of the players being asked to take on a larger role is freshman guard Tamara Simpson. A second-year varsity player, Simpson was up to the task Wednesday, scoring a career-high 23 points to lead host North Babylon to a 72-65 win over Kings Park in non-league. Freshman Charise Wilson scored 17 points and Mary Chisholm added 13 for North Babylon (2-0).

"I am adapting well,'' Simpson said. "Bria left a huge gap for a lot of people to step up. I don't have any more jitters. I know I have to be a big part of this team. I score more and have improved my rebounding.''

Simpson scored 13 first-half points as the Bulldogs took a 37-28 lead. She found herself wide open under the basket several times for layups.

"She does a great job of moving without the ball,'' North Babylon coach Debbie Brajevich said. "She's a very smart player. She reads the ball on defense. She's one of the best players around, but no one knows about her.''

North Babylon seemed ready to pull away several times, but Kings Park rallied each time. The Kingsmen used a 9-2 run to pull within 26-24 with 3:58 left in the first half before the Bulldogs took the nine-point halftime lead. Taylor Bailey converted a three-point play to pull Kings Park within 43-42 with 2:45 left in the third quarter.

Simpson scored on a layup off a pass from Casey Filippone with seven minutes left in the game to cap a 14-4 run, giving the Bulldogs a 57-46 lead.

SEE PHOTOSNorth Babylon 72, Kings Park 65

"For a young team that's an outstanding trait,'' Brajevich said. "When Kings Park made runs they didn't act like a young team. They answered back and didn't lose their composure.''

Daniele Buoncore scored 16 points, Taylor Bailey and Meghan Eckel each scored 15 and Marion Kawecki added 14 for Kings Park (2-1).

"I could not be more pleased with their mental toughness,'' Kings Park coach Tom Edmundson said. "I didn't know we had it in us. I know now. They never broke. They came back every time.''