East Meadow boys revamp after 19-win season
East Meadow’s boys are coming off back-to-back highly successful seasons, including an appearance in the Nassau Class AAA championship game last March where it rallied from a 20-point deficit to pull even with Port Washington before the Vikings squeaked out a 58-50 victory to take the title.
The Jets lost eight seniors, including six three-year varsity players, from a 19-win team and have a lot of rebuilding to do but five returnees who practiced every day last season and knows what it takes to get the job done.
“A few points away from a county championship,” head coach Tom Rottkamp said. “We had a special season with great chemistry.”
East Meadow is lacking in height with the exception of 6-foot-7 senior center Christian Ekwonye and is severely lacking varsity game experience. It has a daunting non-league schedule that includes St. Anthony’s and Wyandanch, and a conference slate with Port Washington, defending Class AA county and Long Island champion Baldwin back in the mix, Herricks, Westbury, Oceanside and Academy Charter.
The starting backcourt will have Harry Haber at the point and Bryant Sewell at shooting guard. Both are seniors and capable of filling the basket. Haber is a captain and leader, Rottkamp said, and Sewell a tough on-ball defender.
Ekwonye is not only the Jets’ tallest by half a foot but also their most versatile. “He can guard any position and does it all offensively,” Rottkamp said. “He can block shots and rebound.”
Senior forward Josh Thelusca has 3-point range and defends well, while senior forward Marko Radaly crashes the boards and is quick getting up and down the floor.
Up from JV after popping in about 20 points per game last season is junior wing Nick Schwabe, who enjoyed a stellar football season while helping East Meadow reach the semifinals. “He’s one of the best athletes in the school,” Rottkamp said.
Given the schedule and roster turnover, the Jets have their work cut out.
“It’s an entirely new season and new team,” Rottkamp said. “We’ll need some guys to step up and give us depth.”
East Meadow girls return championship pedigree
Two seasons removed from the most successful in program history as well as a semifinal appearance last winter, East Meadow still boasts championship pedigree as it returns to the largest classification for the first time since 2022-23.
“The chemistry and work ethic is nice to see,” said head coach Peter Olenik, who in 2023-24 guided the Jets to their first-ever county and Long Island titles. “We’re definitely a playoff-caliber team and we’ll look to get better every day.”
East Meadow finished 14-8 last season and is turning the page on the Allie Twible-era. “We have to figure out where to find 16 points per game,” Olenik said. “We’re looking to push the pace all game long.”
That won’t be too difficult with senior Kayla Lederer and junior Angelina Cronin leading the backcourt. Both were Honorable Mention All-County last winter and key pieces during the championship run two seasons ago.
“Kayla has elite speed and nobody can guard her,” Olenik said. “She can get to the basket and draw fouls and is also a great defender. We’ll need a little more offense from her and I’m confident she’ll deliver.”
Cronin, who runs the point, has been a double-digit scorer for two straight seasons and was Honorable Mention All-County as a freshman too. She drained 42 shots from behind the arc as a sophomore, averaging more than a dozen points per game, and is another tenacious defender.
Junior forward Emily Zaradich is a returning starter and a cross country and track standout as well. “She’s our tallest kid and probably our best overall athlete,” Olenik said. “There’s a tremendous flow to her game. So smooth.”
Big things are expected from junior Kate Barnett, another returning starter who chipped in 8 points per game and has potential for more. “She’s a well-rounded player who is gaining confidence in her shooting,” Olenik said.
Schedule
Boys basketball
Dec. 11: @ Port Washington, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 15: @ Herricks, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 18: V.S. Central, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 7: @ Oceanside, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 10: Academy Charter, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 13: Westbury, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: Baldwin, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 23: Port Washington, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 26: Herricks, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 29: @ V.S. Central, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 4: Oceanside, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: @ Academy Charter, 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 10: @ Westbury, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 13: @ Baldwin, 7:00 p.m.
Girls basketball
Dec. 9: @ Freeport, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 11: Port Washington, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 15: @ Massapequa, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 17: @ V.S. Central, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 7: Oceanside, 4:45 p.m.
Jan. 10: @ Farmingdale, 11:45 a.m.
Jan. 12: Baldwin, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 13: @ Westbury, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 26: @ Herricks, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 31: @ Plainview, 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 4: @ Syosset, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 10: Uniondale, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 13: @ Hicksville, 5:00 p.m.
