On Wednesday, March 4, the day following the Great Neck North High School Sports Awards, sweatshirts started appearing around the school that said, "They said we couldn't do it." "It" refers to accomplishing something North girls' basketball had never done. "It" was the playoffs.

With seven returning players, many new ones, and a brand new coach, the girls' basketball team set out for a new beginning. Practices began and went well, but everyone was still skeptical about how the team would perform on the court against real competition. It was disheartening when the team lost its first two scrimmages to two superior teams from higher divisions. However, the girls and their coach, Hugh Flaherty, were determined to turn the reputation of the girls' basketball team around. They began to practice harder than ever, using their defeats as motivation. When the time finally came for the first game, the girls played hard, but in the end were not victorious, with a loss by merely one basket to Roslyn. Still, everyone thought that maybe there was a chance to achieve a credible record. After another loss to a strong Manhasset team some were beginning to believe that the 2002-2003 season would be another year of hard work with little result. However, the team was finally successful and won their first game in over a year at Bethpage. Shaina Pollack scored a career-high 38 points and added eight assists and six steals. Shaina scored 15 points in the fourth quarter as North expanded a two-point lead. Dana Goldman had 11 rebounds. High hopes were building up amongst the teammates, as they grew closer and realized there would soon be many more games like the one they had just played.

On Jan. 11, the Blazers traveled to their second consecutive away game at Island Trees. This was the game that turned the season around by proving the team could succeed even against a team like Island Trees whose front court averaged almost six feet tall. Shaina Pollack had eight of her 16 points and Rebecca Sorenson, who had 12 points, hit two three-pointers in the fourth quarter to cement the victory.

These two road victories inspired the next win against Mineola, at home. The Blazers led the whole way, and won a hard fought battle 54 to 50. For the first time in many years, the North girls varsity basketball team had a winning streak, and a league record above .500. In the next game against Lynbrook it appeared as if the Blazers would once again prevail; however, Lynbrook's Ashley Sherman made three three-pointers in the last three minutes to fuel a 14-2 run that erased North's 40-34 lead, and Lynbrook won 61 to 51. The team then traveled to Seaford, for what would turn out to be one of the most exciting games of the year. Freshman Sanam Talasazan made both free throws as North took a 52-48 lead with 46 seconds left after trailing by 40 to 32 at the end of three periods. Shaina Pollack had 34 points, eight rebounds, five steals and five assists. Ashley Goodman grabbed 13 rebounds. Rebecca Sorenson had 16 points and four assists.

More than half the team's points this season were scored by junior Shaina Pollack. Like most great players, Shaina had the ability to lead the team in the division and possibly the state in scoring, played great defense, and made the players around her better. In the heart-breaking, double overtime loss to Island Trees on Feb. 11, Shaina scored her 1,000 career point as part of a 34-point effort. Her 28-point scoring average broke the Blazer record.

The team finished with a league record of 6 and 6. Everyone held their breath waiting to find out if the Blazers would make the Nassau County playoffs. The news came Sunday, Feb. 16, the excitement of making Great Neck North girls varsity basketball history was tempered by the knowledge that team would have to play the number two seed, Malverne, with a conference record of 11-1. As expected, the Blazers played hard, but were overwhelmed by the players from Malverne. The game ended with a score of 87-36. The score of this game did nothing to diminish the accomplishments of the Great Neck North girls varsity basketball program, and the season ended with high hopes for next year.

The team is losing five seniors: Nicole Benmen, Margot Blum, Dana Goldman, Courtney Litvack and Danielle Pomeroy. Their leadership and guidance will be missed next year. However, the two leading scorers (Pollack and Sorenson) and nine other players are returning. Coach Flaherty's optimism for next season, expressed at the Sports Awards, seems justifiable. It would seem the question now is, how far can the Blazers go in the playoffs? It is no longer will they win more than one or two games? The success of the team is not judged by the record, but by the spirit and resolve shown by the girls.