December game showcases East Islip girls basketball program’s past and present

The East Islip High School varsity girls basketball team game on Dec. 16 proved a multifaceted event, showcasing the program’s past and present glories as well as the team’s admirable efforts to give back to the community.

Captain Kamilah Pasha helped spearhead a fundraising effort by the team on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Foundation, which helped spread awareness and netted $600 for this worthy cause.

The day also served to commemorate the 20th anniversary of East Islip’s Long Island Championship girls basketball team, and many of the players were in attendance to celebrate their accomplishments, including Katie Burke, Patti Cronin, Christine Dorney, Kristen Jackson, Jen McLoughlin, Rebecca Primm, Regina Primm and Steffi Propper.

“Many of the players hadn’t seen each other in years, and it was truly a special time to celebrate and reconnect,” said current coach Mike Petre.

Finally, Petre inducted five new members from that 2001 team to the Lady Redmen Legends Club: Katie Burke, Patti Cronin, Christine Dorney, Jen McLoughlin and Rebecca Primm. All five players were highly decorated in their playing days and were the starters for the Long Island champions and 2001 state finalist team.

Bay Shore fall athletics roundup

In the Bay Shore athletics newsletter Chris Agostino, the director of health, physical education and athletics, and Ted Negengast the chair of athletics, praised the success of Bay Shore’s fall sports. The letter highlighted the fall sports teams that made it to the postseason. The teams were: girls volleyball (co-league champs), boys volleyball (co-league champs), girls cross country (second in league, second in divisional championships, fourth in Class A county championships), boys cross country (Division 1 champions, third in class a championships) and field hockey (Division 1 champions, given to the top five teams in the division).

The letter also highlighted the teams that were NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Teams. To be a Scholar Athlete team, 75 percent of the team must have an average GPA of 90 percent or above. Eleven of the 12 Bay Shore varsity teams qualified. (Boys and girls cross country, field hockey, boys golf, gymnastics, boys and girls soccer, swimming and diving, girls tennis, boys and girls volleyball.