[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5369-5370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     A TRIBUTE TO THE STONY BROOK HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 1999

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and emotion that I 
rise today in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the girls 
high school basketball team from Stony Brook, on Long Island. 
Culminating a successful season, marked with 15 wins and 4 losses, the 
``Bears of Stony Brook'' were crowned the ``1999 Suffolk County Class 
D'' basketball champions.
  With a proud history, the girls basketball team had to overcome past 
disappointments,

[[Page 5370]]

to band together as a team and win the championship. In the previous 
two years, the Bears had traveled to the Suffolk County tournament only 
to be denied the prestigious championship. This season, led by coach 
Keith Singer, the girls were finally successful in their quest for the 
title. Their journey ended the weekend of February 20 with the 
overwhelming victory over Pierson High School. After receiving the 
number one seed in the playoffs, the Bears defeated Pierson High 
School, ranked second in the tournament, by a score of 61-30.
  The strong 15 and 4 record is a testament to the hard work and 
determination of the Bears. Coach Keith Singer's leadership kept these 
young women poised on winning the championship. On the basketball 
court, the Bears were blessed with a well-balanced offensive team. 
Senior Rebecca Fischer led the Bears offense by scoring 18 points, and 
adding 14 rebounds. Fellow senior, Sara Kiernan, further contributed to 
the bears success with 13 points. The team's success would not have 
occurred without their determination and teamwork.
  The Bears' success is also attributed to their dominating defensive 
style. The team has frustrated numerous teams with their suffocating 
defensive play. Led by senior Sara Kiernan, who amassed five steals, 
the Bears put together a stringent zone defense. The success of their 
defense is most easily seen in their domination of rival Pierson. In 
the final, the Bears' defense devastated Pierson. In the first period, 
Pierson was held to a mere 7 points. Overall, Pierson was only able to 
score 30 points against the Bears, despite being ranked second in the 
County.
  The work ethic and determined spirit of this high school basketball 
team are a true reflection of my Congressional District. The entire 
community is filled with pride for these young women, who have worked 
so hard and sacrificed so much to reach their goal. So I ask my 
colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me and all my 
neighbors in saluting the Stony Brook Bears, the ``1999 Suffolk County 
Class D'' girls high school basketball champions.

                          ____________________