The last 365 days have brought plenty of highlights, produced many stars and created memories to last a lifetime. Courier Life Sports Editor Joseph Staszewski takes a look back at the year in Brooklyn high school sports and picks the best of the best from 2015:
Program of the Year
Grand Street
The Wolves have come a long way in short time, and the program once known mainly for baseball and wrestling stretched its wings in a big way in 2015. The Grand Street football team won its first public school city title at the highest level and did so without a single loss. The girls’ soccer team garnered a division crown and reached the quarterfinals, and boys’ soccer and girls’ basketball squads each reached the city title game for the first time — though both fell short of the crown. There was success across the board and a strong foundation for more to come.
Boys’ Athlete of the Year
Shamorie Ponds, Thomas Jefferson boys’ basketball
The senior worked his way to becoming the face of New York City, a top national recruit, and the first big splash of Chris Mullin’s coaching tenure at St. John’s. Ponds led Jefferson to a borough title and a trip to the city semifinals last season. He started his final year averaging 26 points per game and has already put out 41- and 32-point performances.
Girls’ Athlete of the Year
Brianna Fraser, South Shore girls’ basketball
The current Maryland freshman was the spearhead of history for South Shore. Fraser, who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds, was its first player selected to the McDonald’s All-American game and she lived up to the billing. Fraser powered the Vikings to the program’s first public school Class AA crown before the signature game of her career ended in defeat in Albany. Fraser scored a single-game Federation tournament record 46 points in a 71–67 loss to Christ the King in the semifinals.
Team of the Year
Grand Street football
The Wolves were top-to-bottom the most talented team in the borough in 2015. Grand Street delivered on all its promises despite outside detractors, its starting quarterback’s early eligibility, the coach’s suspension, and the starting running back’s arrest. The players stuck by each other to win a historic city championship.
Coach of Year
Rosanne D’Augusta, Brooklyn Tech girls’ volleyball
“Welcome to the club” — that’s what D’Augusta was told after winning her first public school Class A crown. It was a gradual build for D’Augusta, who is in her 11th season coaching. Tech lost in three straight semifinals, but the core continued to improve on her watch. She meshed the new players and new roles perfectly for the championship mix.
Best Newcomer
Zaria Dorsey, Bishop Loughlin girls’ basketball
The freshman exploded onto the scene last season, helping the Lions net wins over Christ the King and nationally ranked New Jersey team Shabazz. Loughlin placed second in Brooklyn and Queens thanks to the highly recruited forward’s presence in the paint. Dorsey, who battled through a knee injury, averaged seven points and five rebounds per match.
Best Upset
Brooklyn Tech girls’ lacrosse beats four-time defending champion Tottenville in the semifinals
Monica Garlinska scored with 1:41 to play in double overtime. The goal — her only in the game — gave the Engineers a thrilling 6–5 victory over the host Pirates. The victory sent Brooklyn Tech, which won the Class B league last season, to its first A title game. Goalie Alexa Euceda made 10 saves, including three in double overtime for Brooklyn Tech.
Best Clutch Performance
Christopher Karnbach, James Madison baseball
In his last home game, the senior left a trail of Karn-age as he single-handedly propelled Madison past defending champion Benjamin Cardozo and into the semifinals for the first time since 2010. Karnbach allowed just one run on five hits in 106 pitches over nine innings and delivered a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to send the Knights home happy.
Game of the Year
Nyontay Wissah’s three-point play sends Xaverian to first Catholic Intersectional title game since 2005
There was a different hero every night during the Clippers’ post-season run. On this night, it was Wissah’s turn. His coast-to-coast layup for a three-point play put Xaverian up four with 30 seconds left in the game — and it held on to beat Cardinal Hayes 56–54.
Story of the Year
Rahmel Ashby playing in the city title game after being jailed for gun possession
Police arrested the Wolves senior running back in April 2014 and again in October 2015 on attempted murder and gun possession charges respectively. Ashby spent time in jail, but he was back in the field shortly after his release — a decision that brought tons of media coverage. He went on to carry the ball 24 times for 116 yards in Grand Street’s city title victory.
Quote of the Year
“He’s just a nice kid. I told him, ‘Listen brother, this is Brooklyn AA — nice guys finish last,’ ” said Jefferson coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard when asked what he told forward Isiah Deas after a poor performance against Lincoln.
Deas heeded the advice and was a big reason the Orange Wave beat the Railsplitters in the Public School Athletic League’s Brooklyn Borough final. Deas scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to help propel Jefferson to a 76–73 comeback win.
