On occasion, a peek down into the "farm system" in baseball can be both the casual and serious baseball fan's barometer for the future success or failure of his or her favorite team. Having just completed their spring season with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses, the 7th grade Middle School girls' basketball team may just provide renewed anticipation for both the players and fans of Mineola girls basketball. While their basketball contemporaries in the eighth grade and the high school struggled to find an equal level of success on their respective courts, the 7th grade girls on the "farm" team completed their season with a new found level of success, confidence and enthusiasm. Building a split squad from his team of 15 players, Coach Joyce interspersed a talented core group of six players amongst his bench players to win their first five games. Although the team hit a rough patch with three losses in a row in the second half of the season, they finished up strong with two straight wins to close out the season. Here's how they did it:

Opening their season against Herricks Middle School, the Lady Mustangs, led by Stephanie Echeverry's 10 first half points, moved out to a 19 - 7 lead at the half. The second half saw Stephanie and Nina Renker each score 7 points, while Mineola's defense held Herricks to just 11 points to take a 33 - 11 lead at the end of the fourth period. Playing a fifth period, Kathleen Smith took the lead offensively with 4 points to lead Mineola to a convincing 39-18 win. Echeverry led Mineola's offense with 17 points, followed by Renker with 11 points and Smith with 4 points.

Looking to build on their opening day win, the Lady Mustangs faced North Shore Middle School. Led by Maryann Sanderleaf's 8 points, Mineola moved out to a 20-17 lead at the half. The second half saw the Lady Mustang offense, led by Renker's 8 points, explode for 21 points, while holding North Shore to just 12 points, to take a 41 - 29 lead at the end of the fourth period. Playing a fifth period, Renker would score 6 additional points to lead the Lady Mustangs to a convincing 51 - 35 win. Renker led Mineola's offense with 18 points, followed by Sanderleaf with 10 points and Smith with 8 points.

With an opportunity to extend their winning streak to three wins in a row, the Lady Mustangs faced South Woods Middle School. Despite Renker's 9 points in the first half, Mineola found itself trailing 15-13 at the half. The second half saw Mineola's defense tighten to hold South Woods to just 8 points, while offensively, Renker, Jessica Bates and Maryann Sanderleaf would lead the Lady Mustangs back to a 29-23 lead. Playing the fifth period, Renker, Smith and Sanderleaf combined to score 11 points to lead Mineola to a 41-27 win. Renker led the Mineola offense with 19 points, followed by Smith with 8 points, Sanderleaf with 5 points and Bates with 4 points.

With their win streak now at three games, Mineola next faced Great Neck South Middle School. Led by Renker and Sanderleaf, who scored 6 points each, Mineola raced to a 26-10 lead at the half. The second half saw Mineola continue its dominance both offensively, and defensively, as they would win going away 43-25. Sanderleaf led Mineola's offense with 10 points, followed by Renker with 8 points and Echeverry with 7 points.

Looking to extend their winning streak to five games, the Lady Mustangs faced a determined opponent in Garden City Middle School. Despite Nina Renker's 6 points and Sanderleaf's 4 points in the first period, Mineola's offense would score only 1 point in the second period and find itself itself trailing 16-14 at the half. In the second half Renker and Smith led Mineola's offense while the defense took hold to allow Mineola 31-28 lead at the end of the fourth period. Renker and Smith continued their offensive effort in the fifth period as they would outscore Garden City 8-4 and lead Mineola to a 39-32 win. Renker led Mineola's offense with 20 points, followed by Smith with 8 points and Sanderleaf with 5 points.

With their winning streak now at 5 games, the Lady Mustangs faced a tough Weber Middle School team from Port Washington. Once again led by Renker and Smith, the Lady Mustangs battled Weber to a 14-14 tie at the half. In the second half, Weber opened a 6 point lead which they would not relinquish as the fourth period came to an end, leading 35-29. Opening the fifth period, Sanderleaf and Ashley Benbow's 4 points, and Smith's 2 points would lead the offense, but Mineola's defense couldn't hold Weber's offense in place as Mineola would fall short and suffer their first defeat of the season 44-40. Renker and Smith led Mineola's offense with 10 points each, followed by Benbow and Echeverry with 7 and 6 points respectively in a losing effort.

Looking to get back on track, the Lady Mustangs traveled to Thompson Middle School. Despite Renker matching baskets with Thompson by scoring 8 points in the first period, Mineola's offense went cold in the second period to find themselves behind 17-13 at the half. Using the halftime to make adjustments, Mineola's offense came out flying. Once again led by Renker and Sanderleaf, Mineola's offense scored 17 points in the second half while holding Thompson to only 6 points to take a 32-29 lead at the end of the fourth period. However, much like the second period, Mineola's offense went into hiding during the fifth period as the Lady Mustangs were outscored 10 to 4 as Thompson came roaring back to defeat Mineola 39-34. Renker led Mineola's offense with 17 points, followed by Smith with 5 points, and Sanderleaf and Bates with 4 points each in a losing effort.

With their losing streak at two games, the Lady Mustangs traveled to Wheatley Middle School. From the very outset, Mineola's offense had trouble getting on track. With Renker and Smith "leading" the offense, Mineola could only muster 7 points to trail 13-7 at the half. The second half proved to be no better for Mineola as Wheatley increased their lead to 11, 30-19. Looking to catch up in the fifth period, Mineola's offense continued its hibernation as they fell to Wheatley 33-25. Renker led Mineola's offense with 12 points, followed by Bates and Smith with 4 points each in a losing effort.

With their losing streak now at three games, the Lady Mustangs need a little bit of "home cookin". Coming back home to the Middle School, Mineola faced Roslyn Middle School. Led by Renker and Sanderleaf in the first half, Mineola jumped out to an 18-8 first half lead. The second half saw Mineola's offense cool off, score only 8 points, and allow Roslyn to climb back into the game and trail by only 4 points, 26-22 at the end of the fourth period. Opening the fifth period, Renker and Kathleen Smith led the Lady Mustangs offense to score 10 of Mineola's 11 points to put Roslyn away 37-27. Renker led Mineola's offense with 15 points, followed by Smith with 10 points and Echeverry with 5 points.

Looking to end the season on a winning note the Lady Mustangs traveled to Manhassett Middle School. With Maine students in attendance, the Mustangs, led once again by Renker's 8 first half points, took a 17-16 lead into halftime. The third period saw Renker once again carry the offensive load as she added an additional 8 points to her 8 first quarter points as Mineola held a slim 29-28 lead. The fourth period saw Mineola break open the game with a 40-32 lead as their defense took hold and Benbow scored 4 points to hold Manhasset at bay. The fifth period saw Kathleen Smith score 4 of Mineola's 8 points, as Mineola held their lead, to defeat Manhasset 48-41. As she has done so many times this season, Renker led Mineola's offense with 18 points, followed by Smith with 8 points, Benbow with 7 points, and Echeverry with 6 points.

Congratulations to the MMS 7th grade girls' basketball team for a terrific season. The team, led by Coach Joyce consists of: Nina Renker, Stefanie Ribeiro, Jill Wetzel, Maria Sckurthaj, Stephanie Echeverry, Kathleen Smith, Maryann Sanderleaf, Jessica Bates, Gail Jakubek, Caitlyn Taveria, Lesley Flores, Ashley Benbow, Amanda Couret, Cidney Cuhna, and Alysa M.