
By Robert Balajadia
The Girls Basketball Playoffs are a little over a week away and the JFK Islanders are focused on moving up in the standings. The Islanders grabbed a win over the Tiyan Titans 47-28 to move to (4-9) on Black Friday to improve their chances at hosting an opening round playoff game at 5th place.
JFK got double-digit scoring from forward Frencine Villena (12 points) and freshman guard Laila Smartt (11 points), who also hit three three-pointers. Smartt caught fire in the 3rd period scoring eight points in the quarter.
“I shot like 10 and only made three,” laughed Smartt when asked if she was feeling in a groove to keep shooting. “You just got to keep shooting and some will go in.”

Smartt wasn’t shy, letting shots fly as her teammates gave her plenty of open looks, adopting the ‘shooters shoot’ mentality.
“[My teammates] set good screens to get our shooters open,” added Smartt.
The Titans were led in scoring by guard Aspen Balbis’s eight points and teammate Jordyn Palconit added seven.
Tiyan kept the contest close in the 2nd period before a defensive spurt from JFK gave the visiting team a slight edge. A steal and score from Jada Hahn followed by another steal and score from Isabella Roberto put JFK up 15-8. Tiyan showed grit to keep the score 19-13 at the half before JFK took over in the 3rd.
Smartt knocked in back-to-back triples from the left wing, using a layup to cap off a personal 8-0 run to go up 33-19.
JFK took their largest lead after a rebound and long assist from Villena to Roberto had the Islanders up 45-25 with two minutes left to play.
“We need to win our next two games coming up to get in the playoffs so right now we’re just focused on that,” said Smartt.
JFK will face the St. John’s Knights next week and the make-up game between the Sanchez Sharks is still to be determined. The Titans also have the Sharks and Knights on their schedule, including a rescheduled game against the Okkodo Bulldogs.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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