A core group of players and with some talented reserves gave the J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ basketball team coached by Alex Nelson everything they had this past winter.
Finley girls' basketball coach Alex Nelson.
While the Blue Devils compiled a 2-8 record, many players turned in fine seasons. The 17 player squad included a mix of seventh and eighth graders, including several hardcourt veterans.
“It was a great group of kids who are determined to improve,” Nelson said. “They supported each other no matter what the score was and always found time to smile and have fun.”
The team’s top players included:
- Ava Brandine: An eighth grader who averaged six points, three assists and two steals per game. “Ava is a point guard with phenomenal ball handling accompanied with grit and drive,” Nelson said.
- Miranda Bellissimo: An eighth grader who averaged five points, two assistant and one steal per game. “Miranda is a point guard who is great at driving and finding the open player to create plays,” Nelson said.
- Gabriella Miller: An eighth grade power forward who averaged six points and five rebounds per game. “She is phenomenal at driving to the basket,” Nelson said.
- Abagail Baade: An eighth grade shooting guard who averaged five points per game. “Abby is an outside shooter whose specialty is outside corner shots,” Nelson said.
- Neurdia Osias: A seventh grade center who averaged four points and five rebounds per game. “Neurdia was a defensive and offensive rebound machine,” Nelson said.
The roster also included seventh graders Amirah Beverly, Chloe Hunt, Ariella Katigbak, Isabella McCarthy, Tinia McGee and Oliva Spada; and eighth graders Kenya Baker, Victoria Befumo, Daniela Luca and Ni’Tiera McGee.
A tough season ended on a high note for Finley when it topped Lindenhurst in a close game, 30-27. The Blue Devils had dropped a 51-40 verdict to the Bulldogs earlier in the year. “It was a phenomenal game,” Nelson said. “We tied it to bring it into overtime with a deep outside shot by Ava Brandine from almost half court. The overtime was a defensive battle, but Miranda Bellissimo hit the game winning shot with one minute left. Neurdia Osias was the unsung hero with her 15 rebounds.”
Eight seventh graders will be returning to the court next year giving rise to hope for a successful season.