Baldwin girls basketball: 'We knew this was our year'

It was a moment four years in the making for the Baldwin starting five.

Baldwin started four seniors and a junior this year and all five had at least four years of varsity experience. Filled with returning starters, three of whom started as sophomores in a Long Island championship season two years ago, this year felt different – even for a program as prestigious as Baldwin.

“We knew that we were an older team and we knew we’ve been through a lot,” senior guard Payton Dulin said. “A lot of trials and tribulations, but we knew this was our year and we weren’t going to be able to get this back. We had to take it this year. Take what’s ours.”

Baldwin took it and left no doubts in the process.

The Bruins won their third girls basketball state championship — and first since 2018 — with a 50-48 victory over Aquinas Institute (Rochester) in the state Class AA final at Hudson Valley Community College on March 23.

Baldwin finished 24-2 with its only losses coming to a high-powered Long Island Lutheran team and Nazareth, who won the state CHSAA Class AA championship.

“We knew we had to get this done,” senior guard Monique Echols said. “This was our last chance to do it, so we had to get it done.”

It was the Last Dance for this Baldwin core, which won three Long Island championships and made two state finals since their freshman year. But each of those previous three seasons ended in a loss, including in the state final in 2022 and state semifinals in 2023. 

That wasn’t the legacy the Bruins wanted to leave behind.

“Last time [at the state tournament], we were definitely young, we knew we had the potential, we knew we were able to get here, we just had to get a little better,” senior forward Toni Smith said. “We knew that eventually it was going to be our time and it was our time this year. We had the pieces to do something special and we did it.”

“It’s more than basketball,” coach Tom Catapano said. “It’s a basketball family here at Baldwin. Personally, as their coach, I’ve known them since they were in the fourth grade, and to see them go out as state champions, there’s nothing better. To see them jump on the court at the end like they conquered the world, it’s why we coach.”

Different players took on pivotal roles throughout the season. Dulin was the consistent top scorer and creator. Echols, Smith, Madison Guillory, Alyssa Polonia, Ajeya Nicholas, Chinaya Okogeri and others played key roles throughout the year.

Polonia, the only junior in the starting lineup, averaged 8.7 points per game. Then, in the state semifinals, she scored 17 points, followed by 18 points in the state final.

She didn’t want to stop playing with the senior class.

“I just want to keep the band together as long as I can and I did,” Polonia said. “It’s just great to experience that with them because they are like my sisters.”

Although there were heartbreaking moments along the way, the Bruins had the ultimate finish they sought in Troy.

“There’s just so many life lessons wrapped up in this season,” Catapano said. “If you want something in life, you have to go out and take it and I think that’s what they learned throughout their whole journey.”