Patchogue-Medford girls varsity basketball has reveled in a valiant 2022-23 winter campaign. The Pat-Med Raiders of Suffolk Division II have heralded a splendid season, proclaiming an overall record …
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Patchogue-Medford girls varsity basketball has reveled in a valiant 2022-23 winter campaign. The Pat-Med Raiders of Suffolk Division II have heralded a splendid season, proclaiming an overall record of 11-4 and sporting a meritorious 8-3-league record.
The Raiders b-ball club, who derive from 181 Buffalo Avenue in Medford, are marshaled by fifth-year head coach and Pat-Med alumnus Leighann Gallagher and governed by assistant coach Bob DeSilva. The Raiders have made the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Some of the biggest performers consist of senior guard Hailey Atcosta; and forward and guard, junior Diamond Pertillar, who leads the team with 15.3 points per game, total points, as well as rebounds with 11.5 and averages 3.77 steals per game. Junior guard Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo leads her team in assists and rebounds. Junior guard Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo averages 10.9 points per game. Junior guard Sophia Emr and sophomore guard Angie McGrath have also been powerful assets. The Raiders started off the season in style by hosting and defeating Elwood John Glenn, 47-32, with Atcosta scoring 19 points and quantifying nine rebounds; Emr scoring 7, and Pertillar, tallying eight rebounds.
On the first road game, the Raiders took a 37-31 loss at the Islip Buccaneers, but that loss provided some motivation as they hammered off three consecutive blowout wins: 35-18 at Eastport-South Manor on Dec. 6; 52-25 hosting Mount Sinai on Dec. 8; and again using their home court to their advantage, 49-37, over Sachem North on Dec. 12.
Midway into the month, the win streak was snapped after two road losses at William Floyd and Sachem East, but those two L’s once again motivated the team, who have since barely tasted defeat. They ripped off four straight wins, the first in full-out domination at home vs. Riverhead, 54-21, where Diamond Pertillar led her club with 21 points, summating 10 rebounds, three assists, and making one steal. Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo placed second with 10 points, four assists, along with two steals. Olivia Liddell scored 4 points, totaled 10 rebounds, and two assists. They then used the home court disadvantage to their advantage in two-straight road wins: 62-56 vs. Longwood and another invigorating performance, 59-43, at Newfield. Pertillar scored 32 points, reeled in 15 rebounds, and added two assists. Bulson-Cuozzo scored 11, and had eight assists, seven steals, and four rebounds.
The fourth-straight win came at home, 53-42, vs. Connetquot, but was snapped after a loss to Ward Melville. They once again picked themselves right back up with another lights-out victory, 59-26, hosting the Bellport Clippers. Isabella Salducco and Diamond Pertillar both led the Raiders with 12 points each. Salducco ahd 14 rebounds and Pertillar, seven. Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo had 10 points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Coaches vs. Cancer game on their home court, the Raiders got another win streak going to win their second consecutive, beating the Centereach Cougars 50-38. Bulson-Cuozzo totaled 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Atcosta scored 12 points, McGrath 9, and Emr 8. The top two rebounds leaders on the evening were Olivia Liddell with 12 and Diamond Pertillar with 10. Two days later, Pat-Med beat Smithtown East, 47-28, at Smithtown East, and with that win they punched their ticket to the postseason. Pertillar had 18 points, seven rebounds, two steals; Bulson-Cuozzo had 13 points, four assists, three steals; Atcosta had four points, three rebounds, two assists; and Salducco scored 2 points and reeled in nine rebounds.
Pat-Med faced Sachem North on Monday, Jan. 23, and this Friday will host William Floyd in a huge Division II game and potential playoff preview. Pat-Med beat Sachem North 55-34.
“These young ladies have been putting in the time and effort year round, and continue to challenge themselves each day. This team is young, but fierce. They have worked relentlessly, putting Pat-Med girls basketball on the map, and we, as their coaches, could not be prouder. Every member of this team serves a different role, and this has helped create a solid base for us. We are excited to have the opportunity to build and grow every chance we get,” said head coach Leighann Gallagher
“This season, we have grown exponentially and have exceeded everyone’s expectations on how our season would go. We continue to build on each other’s strengths, which has led to us becoming a dominating force within our league. We work hard each day in practice in hopes of continuing our success. Can’t wait to see how the rest plays out,” added senior guard Hailey Atcosta.
“This has been a surprising season for all of us. After last season of tough losses and losing six seniors, I knew we were going to be a young team compared to some of our other competition. However, that didn’t get to us. Everyone on this team is very supportive of each other, learning and improving every day. We have been working really hard, as we are about to clinch a spot in playoffs. This is a huge accomplishment for us, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do the rest of the season,” continued junior point guard Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo.
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