St. Peter’s Bob Daggett is The Post’s Staten Island Coach of the Year. (Damion Reid)
It was a relatively normal year on Staten Island. St. Peter’s won its 15th straight CHSAA Island title and advanced to the CHSAA Class AA semifinals, falling just short of the goal of going to the state Federation championship for the first time at the highest classification under longtime coach Bob Daggett. McKee/Staten Island Tech took home its fourth PSAL title in five years and went to the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals.
One of the best stories of the year, though, was upstart Moore Catholic. A young squad from last year developed into a force that pushed St. Peter’s repeatedly. The Mavericks finished their season in the CHSAA Class A semifinals.
All-Staten Island girls basketball Player of the Year:
Taylor Baggs, Moore Catholic
Taylor Baggs isn’t one to praise herself. The Moore Catholic junior deflects questions about her own performances and accolades by talking about her teammates. But watching her play leaves no doubt who the Mavericks’ best player is.
“Taylor Baggs is a humble killer,” Moore coach Rich Postiglione said. “She will not let you lose.”
It isn’t something her team did often during a 23-6 season that ended with a loss to eventual CHSAA Class A state champion St. Anthony’s in the semifinals and included a second straight Archdiocesan Class A crown. The undersized forward averaged 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and scored her 1,000th point this season. She was the model of consistency. The 5-foot-9, blue-collar Baggs battles in the paint on both ends and can step out and make the jumper.
“When we need to score, I say put the ball in Taylor¹s hands,” teammate Nicole Arnone said. “She will score. She will get it done.”
All-Staten Island girls basketball Coach of the Year:
Bob Daggett, St. Peter’s
There may not be a more respected girls basketball coach across the city than Bob Daggett.
“Bob runs some great stuff — he¹s a tremendous coach,” Christ the King coach Bob Mackey said.
His precision, preparation and organization have made St. Peter’s one of the best programs in the five boroughs. It was no different this season. Daggett, in his 22nd year, seamlessly meshed two new starters and an inexperienced bench with a strong core. The Eagles finished 23-3, won their 15th straight CHSAA SI title and came within a basket of beating St. Michael Academy for a second straight Archdiocesan ‘AA’ title. Daggett always gets the most out of his talent. Junior forward Ashley Motrechuk and guard Jamie O’Hare had breakout seasons before St. Peter’s lost to Christ the King in the CHSAA Class AA state semis.
All-Staten Island first team
G Christine Kline, St. Peter’s
The junior is arguably the best guard on Staten Island. She can score, get into the passing lanes and rebounds like a forward. Kline ran the Eagles like clockwork and has a knack for the big play.
F Catherine Lewis, St. Peter’s
The Colgate-bound senior was ready to play out the season with a broken wrist, showing toughness that epitomized her team. Lewis can shoot from the outside, rebound and battle in the paint on both ends.
G Kristen Markoe, McKee/SI Tech
The senior was the undisputed heart and soul of her team, not to mention one of the best 3-point shooters in the city. The tough-as-nails Markoe also excelled in volleyball and soccer at MSIT.
G Jamie O¹Hare, St. Peter’s
The sophomore burst onto the scene in a big way this season. Her blazing speed and limitless determination made her a force on both ends of the floor. O¹Hare’s future is bright.
G Christina Rubin, Moore Catholic
The sophomore is continually working on her game and it showed. Rubin has limitless range beyond the arc and became the Mavericks’ best clutch scorer with Taylor Baggs. Her best is yet to come.
All-Staten Island second team
G Kaitlyn Astel, McKee/SI Tech
The sophomore can score from anywhere on the court and had an innate chemistry with teammate Kristen Markoe. They made up one of the most dynamic duos in the PSAL.
F Mayana LeGrande, SI Academy
The center scored her 1,000th point during a 23-4 season that ended in the NYSAISAA Class C semifinals. The senior was a bulldozer in the paint and double-double waiting to happen.
G Toni Ann Longobardi, Tottenville
Flying under the radar because this was just her first season of varsity basketball, Longobardi was a superb scoring point guard for the Pirates. She’s getting Division I interest.
F Ashley Motrechuk, St. Peter’s
No one may have had a more impressive finish that the junior forward. She showed off her perimeter game in a loss to St. Mike’s and is a matchup problem waiting to happen because of athleticism.
G Kelin Walsh, McKee/SI Tech
The freshman point guard’s importance was felt when she got hurt in the first half of an eventual PSAL Class AA quarterfinals loss to South Shore. Walsh was as steady as they come and has a bright future.
All-Staten Island third team
F Casey Bray, SI Academy
The Notre Dame Academy transfer was called the missed piece by SIA coach Rose Dunn. She excelled immediately with her new teammate and gave the Tigers a versatile scored with a great basketball IQ.
F Kelsey Carey, St. Joseph Hill
Carey is a freshman, but she didn’t play like one. The 5-foot-10 center was a double-double machine. She showed a maturity in the paint beyond her years and a glimpse into a bright future.
G Jessica Coscia, Moore Catholic
Coach Rich Postiglione called the junior the player he could not do without on the court. She ran the Mavericks’ offense like clockwork, was a tough defender and showed an excellent outside touch.
G Dana Gildea, Curtis
The Warriors didn’t have the kind of season they did last year when they won Staten Island and made the PSAL Class AA playoffs. But the season Curtis did have – an 8-6 record and trip to the ‘A’ second round – was mostly owed to Gildea, who averaged 20.6 points per game and stroked more than two 3-pointers per contest.
F Victoria Jones, St. Peter’s
The Pace-bound forward didn’t always put up big numbers, but did a little bit of everything on both ends. She carried the team with 18 points and eight points in road win against Moore Catholic.
All-Staten Island girls basketball honorable mention
G C.J. Bernieri, SI Academy
F Ashley Iannocone, N.D. Academy
F Maria Nardulli, St. Joseph by the Sea
G Katie Nikosey, St. John Villa
G Keelan Smith, St. Joseph Hill