By Dylan Butler
In the span of just three weeks, the John Bowne girls’ basketball team did a lot of growing up.
Just 19 days after dropping a 51-41 decision to Grover Cleveland in the PSAL Queens Winter Classic, the young Wildcats rebounded with an impressive 54-46 victory over the Indians Friday at Bowne.
Bowne, which handed Cleveland its first league loss, is now tied atop Queens II-B with the Indians with just one league game left to play.
“It was a nice win, especially since we’re a young and inexperienced team,” said Bowne head coach Bruce Bitterman. “The first time we played them, it was also a big game, but we rose to the occasion much better the second time.”
As has been the case throughout the season, Nashaun Burrell led the Wildcats, scoring a game-high 21 points. Gizette Knight added 14 points and 16 rebounds for Bowne (16-5, 10-1) which rallied from a pair of 10-point deficits.
Jennifer Barenboim had 20 points and seven assists and Shannon Gonzalez added 16 points for Cleveland (10-1), which finish the regular season against Newcomers, while Bowne takes on Robert F. Kennedy in its regular-season finale. Both games are Feb. 6.
Cardozo 69, Long Island City 31. Britni Bolden had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Denise Fath added 11 points and eight assists for Cardozo (15-6, 7-4 Queens A). Dafina Bright scored 17 points to lead LIC.
Forest Hills 31, Renaissance School 18. Jackie Butler had seven points and five assists, Kamila Barnes and Katie Gilbert added six points and eight rebounds apiece for Forest Hills (7-11, 3-8 Queens II-B), which used a 15-2 third quarter to pull away.
Edison 55, Newcomers 37. Nichole Wright had 21 points and Anika Charles and Jillian Decoursey added 15 points apiece to lead Edison (10-8, 7-4 Queens II-B). Laura Burlacu paced Newcomers (3-8) with 21 points.
Richmond Hill 38, Robert F. Kennedy 33. Maria Velasquez led Richmond Hill (2-16) with 24 points in a non-league win. Michelle Wallace scored a game-high 29 points for RFK.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
