Carle Place varsity girls basketball team wins title for second year
The Carle Place varsity girls basketball team is getting used to victory. The team was named Nassau County Class B Champions for the second year in a row, during their playoff game against Oyster Bay on Feb. 18 at LIU Post. The team won 62-58 in overtime and varsity coach Michael Bello said it was one of the most exciting, intense games he’s ever been a part of. 
“It was one of those games we went into knowing we had a real good opportunity to win,” Bello said. “We started off strong. Kacey (Burden) led the team offensively and the team played great defense.”
Making the win even more impressive was that the Carle Place squad is a young team. Bello said much of the team’s success this season can be credited to the senior athletes, who provided supportive leadership to the younger players who had to get used to the speed of the game.
“Kacey, Eileen (Liang) and Elissa (Frein) had the patience to allow the other girls to learn and get used to the game and make mistakes and feel their way,” Bello said. “That really helped our season. It meant a lot to the younger girls that when they made a mistake they didn’t have to be fearful of the seniors’ reactions.”
Last year, the team was crowned Long Island Champions and Bello is hoping to clinch that title again when the girls play Mattituck at St. Joseph’s College March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Bello said the team’s victory is made even sweeter because of the supportive community that has encouraged them every step of the way.
“The support from the family, school and town really helps the program,” Bello said. “The girls know they have total support and a loud crowd cheering them on. That makes it more than a team win, it’s a town and school win.”
