History does not always repeat itself.
This year’s Manhasset girls basketball team is not last year’s.
There are some different players, players from last year who’ve gotten stronger, and other players in new roles.
Still, in the back of the Indians’ players’ minds, what happened in last season’s Class A quarterfinals had lodged for a while. The top seed in the 2022 tournament, Manhasset was stunningly bounced by No. 9 seed Lynbrook, and a season with such promise ended with a thud.
This year Manhasset again roared through the regular season, going 19-1, and easily won a first-round matchup with Carey High School.
And once again, back in the quarters on Feb. 21, Manhasset’s players admitted there was some nervousness before the game.
“You think a little bit like, ‘we’re not going to let the same thing happen two years in a row when we’re the top seed,” junior co-captain Mia LoPinto said. “We had talked about it, we knew we were a different, stronger team.
“Still, it was such an amazing relief to get past it.”
“A huge mental block to get past, for all of us,” senior co-captain Ali McIntyre added. “We had been waiting to wipe that (memory) away.”
Manhasset rolled past MacArthur that night and now will play Monday night against Bethpage in the Class A semifinals.
Looking for its first county title since before anyone had an email address (1993), the Indians hope to advance to Saturday’s championship game at noon at Hofstra.
“There’s no ego, no selfishness at all on this team, and that’s not something you can say every year,” said head coach Lauren Sadeh. “I’ve told the kids, ‘We know we didn’t get it done last year, but we’re bigger and better, and this is our year to do it.'”
Hoping to duplicate the Manhasset boys’ state title win last season, the girls team has been dominant. Boasting a record of 21-1, Manhasset has rarely been threatened this year and is led by senior point guard Caitlin Barrett.
Signed to play lacrosse at Duke next year, Barrett has had a sensational campaign, averaging 15.3 points, four assists and four steals while being double and triple-teamed often.
“Sometimes I’ll see her on a fast break and I’ll jog behind her in case she needs backup, but really I know she’ll be fine,” McIntyre said with a laugh. “She can take on all five defenders at once, while we’re all just standing around the perimeter. She’s amazing.”
LoPinto has also been key on the perimeter, averaging 9.6 points per game, and being the team’s leading three-point threat.
Manhasset has also benefited from added size on the frontline this year. In addition to the 5-foot-9 McIntyre (6.4 rebounds per game) and 5-foot-10 junior Lauren Perfetto (6.5 rebounds per game), 6-foot-1 freshman center Lauren Connolly has been a revelation this year, showing skills beyond her age and helping on the boards.
“She allows us a layer of confidence when she steps on the court,” Sadeh said. “She rebounds the ball well, she works hard, and the girls are very supportive of her. She’s an easy kid to root for.”
Barrett and LoPinto also pointed to this year’s team’s closeness on and off the court as a big reason for success.
“We’ve done a lot of team bonding stuff, and everyone has been pushing the pace and playing really hard in practice,” said Barrett, one of the standouts on last spring’s Manhasset state title-winning girls lacrosse team. “We all know that this year has to be when we get it done.”
On paper Manhasset seems a good bet to win the counties, but last year’s playoff loss means they’re certainly not taking anything for granted.
“We talk about ‘fear no one, but respect everyone,’ because when you’re the top seed you’re getting everyone’s best game and there’s a huge target on your back,” Sadeh said. “But this team has really bought into everything we’re trying to do and bought into our system.
“They know there’s still a lot of work to do.”
