CHS Hoop Coaches Optimistic About New Season
By Jack Koeppel

After appearances in last year’s PSAL varsity basketball competition, Canarsie’s boys and girls basketball head coaches are approaching the current campaign with a measure of optimism.

Head coach Tommie Allen describes his boys squad as a "playoff caller club."

"We have a better, deeper club than last year when we made it to the Sweet 16," Allen noted.

The facts seem to bear him out. The Chiefs began the season 5-0, including two division victories - at home against South Shore and at Boys and Girls High School.

Canarsie features an all-senior starting lineup. 6’4" Keith Bussey is described by Allen as "a player who gets a lot of rebounds and blocks a lot of shots. He is a good, inside scorer and is aggressive around the basket."

The Chiefs’ three guard offense features 5’11" Robert White, a "tremendous shooter, team leader and good defender," 6’1" Kenneth Cooper, a "great defender and very aggressive," and 6’1" Clarence Emengo, "a tremendous shooter from three-point range and a great defender."

Allen calls 6’3" center Paul Ekprin, who completes the starting squad, "a great post player and an outstanding rebounder."

Coming off the bench is Eugene Lawrence, a 6’1" sophomore, "skilled in ball handling, passing, and defense;" 5’11" junior Kevin Nichols, an "excellent defender and team leader;" 6’5" junior Kenard Bernard, a "good inside player with a good mid-range shooting touch," and Jerome Williams, a 6’4" senior who is a "good defender with a good shooting touch.".

Girls varsity coach Michelle Goodman’s squad reached the quarter finals last year but she’s cautiously optimistic in her assessment of the team’s chances this season.

"We graduated five seniors and four of them were starters "she stated. "Anytime you lose four starters, it’s a rebuilding year. We’re in a really tough division, but I feel we can be competitive."

Projected starters include 5’2" junior co-captain Natasha Box, described by Goodman as "very, very fast" and "probably the hardest worker on the team;" 5’7" senior Lisa Piedra, who earned second team all-borough honors as a freshman and sophomore and honorable mention last year. Goodman indicated that Piedra, who had been a starting point guard for the last three years, would be moving to small forward due to this team’s lack of size and experience in the front court.

6’2" sophomore Whitney Hollis made the team as a freshman but didn’t play much because the Lady Chiefs had a lot of veteran experience in the front court. "She needs to gain court experience" Goodman stated. "She has potential but, at this point, may lack confidence."

5’3" junior co-captain Katoya Coley was described as an "excellent three-point shooter and very good passer." Expected to start at shooting guard, Goodman describes her as a "hard worker who compliments Natasha."

Vying for the remaining starting spot are 5’5" senior Jackie Jean Baptiste and s5’8" junior Dockkeyda Boyd.

Promising Freshmen include 5’10" forward Idira Otu, who is expected to develop into a strong rebounder and shot blocker and 5’6" guard ShaeQuana Brathwaite, who possesses "tremendous ball handling skills and is a strong rebounder for her size." Over time, said Goodman, "I expect Brathwaite to be a major contributor to the Canarsie squad."

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