Westhampton girls basketball's Kate Sweet is Newsday's Athlete of the Week

Kate Sweet has a knack for excelling under the bright lights of Stony Brook University.

"Once the game starts, she plays to win," coach Katie Peters said. "Her work ethic is second to none. It can't be taught or learned."

Last year, Sweet scored 13 points to lead the Westhampton girls basketball team to their second straight Suffolk title.

This year was no different. The junior scored 28 points Westhampton won its third consecutive Suffolk Class AA title on Friday night at SBU. She was also an integral part of the Hurricanes' defense. She recorded three steals and four blocks on Wednesday as it captured its first Long Island championship.

For her efforts, Sweet is named Newsday's Athlete of the Week.

"She's following in the pathway that others started before her," Peters said. "We always talk about leaving a legacy, and Kate has taken that next step. Kate Sweet is going to be the next girl that all the young girls look up to."

Sweet is a lockdown defender who uses her defense to create her offense. She can also get downhill and finish around the rim and shoot from beyond the arc.

"She's a solid player," Peters said. "She came into the program as a good defender, but she's at a place where her offense and her defense match."

"I don't let anyone by me," Sweet said. "I don't want to let them score. My defense turns into offense. I would always get steals that would lead to easy fast-break points."

The four-year varsity player averaged 13.5 points in the regular season, and her production in the playoffs improved to 17.5 points in their four games.

"When I get on the court, I run everything out," Sweet said. "Everything goes quiet around me. I'm so competitive that as soon as I get in the game, I zone out. I don't hear anything."

In addition to her play on the court, Sweet is an honor roll student who takes four AP classes and maintains a 96 GPA.

"School comes naturally to me," Sweet said. "I watched my sister maintain both, so I look after her. If I have a late practice, I'll get my homework done before or during my lunch period."

Sweet says the motivating factor this year is getting the seniors, Sandra Clarke, Jasmine Taylor, Scarlet Doyle, and Verona Easton a state championship for their last dance.

"We've been playing together for the longest, and now that they are all seniors, it's crazy," Sweet said. "That's why everyone is so excited, realizing that this is the last time we all play with each other. We all want to go far. We didn't come all this way to lose."

By Jonathan Ruban

jonathan.ruban@newsday.com

Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.