Carly Greenbaum helps Syosset roll past POB JFK to Class AAA final
Syosset's Carly Greenbaum in the girls basketball Class AAA semifinals against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK on Saturday. Credit: Neil Miller
Syosset coach Michael Ferreira called a timeout to the displeasure of senior and five-year varsity player Carly Greenbaum. Syosset corralled an offensive rebound and Greenbaum ended up sinking a three-pointer immediately after Ferreira called for the stoppage.
“She came in and said, ‘I can’t believe you called a timeout,” said Ferreira with a smile. “Then I said, ‘I’m sure you’ll make the next one.’”
And that’s exactly what Greenbaum did on the ensuing possession. The senior knocked down her second three-pointer of the third quarter in the game’s defining period as No. 2 Syosset defeated No. 3 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 57-27, in the girls basketball Nassau Class AAA semifinals at Farmingdale State College on Saturday night.
Greenbaum, who finished with 17 points including five three-pointers, was quick to pass the praise to her teammates.
“My teammates were finding me exactly where I wanted to be,” she said. “It was within the plays and everything we practiced and if my teammates never found me, it wouldn’t have happened. It was just falling for me out there.”
Syosset (17-5) advances to play top-seeded Baldwin (18-4) in the Nassau Class AAA final at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Farmingdale State College. Syosset is seeking its first county title since 2009.
Emma Heaney had 18 points for Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (15-7).
After the score was tied at 16 late in the second quarter, Syosset closed the final 2:07 of the first half on a 7-0 run. Kate Nelmes, who had 18 points, started the run with a three-pointer and ended with a layup with 33 seconds left in the period to give Syosset a 23-16 lead at halftime.
Ferreira noted Greenbaum’s enthusiasm at halftime. That translated on the court as Syosset outscored Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK 17-4 in the third quarter and 34-11 in the second half. Greenbaum had 14 of her 17 points in the second half.
“She was going to make sure we weren’t going to lose this game,” Ferreira said. “She was vocal at halftime and she backed it up herself in the third quarter. She was able to back up those words so I’m proud of her for doing what she does.”
Olivia Mallor added eight points and Samantha Schneider had seven points in a win that was fueled by a strong defensive effort to turn turnovers into points.
“Our defense was incredible,” Greenbaum said. “I think our press was getting us where we needed to be and the majority of our points came from our defense. The hustle was there, the heart was there and it was a great team win.”
Syosset hopes to snap Baldwin’s run of nine straight county titles and claim its first county crown since 2009.
“We know how successful they’ve been throughout the years and we know how talented and well-coached that team is,” Ferreira said. “We’re just glad we get an opportunity to step on the court with them, we lost a tough one earlier in the season to them so we’re excited. That’s a game we’ve had circled and the day our season ended last year, so we hope to get back with them and make it a game.”
"We were very confident going in and we are on the road to a county championship,” Greenbaum said. “I’m very confident in my team this year.”
