STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Susan Wagner opened PSAL 4A Conference play in a big way on Wednesday evening, cruising to a dominant 71–37 victory over visiting New Dorp.
“It’s always great to get that first league win out of the way, especially with a new team like ours. You want to go out there and hopefully send the message that you’re going to be fighting for that playoff spot somehow,” Falcons head coach Tom Rizzo said after the game.
Wagner, with only three seniors on its roster, showed a bit of early season yips as New Dorp opened the game with a quick 7–0 run. But after Rizzo called a timeout to steady his team, the Falcons responded with a scorching surge. Once they tied the game at 10–10, they poured in 22 unanswered points, ultimately carrying a commanding 41–17 lead into halftime — one that must have felt insurmountable to the visitors.
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Susan Wagner vs. New Dorp Girls’ Varsity Basketball
“We’ve got a freshman–sophomore backcourt learning on the fly, and they definitely answered the bell. We made a few adjustments, went to a press, and I think that was the difference,” Rizzo said of his game-changing bench talk.
The Falcons’ guards may be green, but Casey McKinney, Wagner’s go-to senior center, looked like the best player on the floor with a team-high 18 points. Her biggest challenge was staying on it, however, as early foul trouble limited her minutes mightily before she picked up her fifth in the fourth quarter.
“We go as far as Casey goes,” Rizzo explained simply.
“League-wide, even the best players have off games. She was under the weather tonight — not that it should be an excuse, but it definitely slowed her down; sometimes those fatigue fouls are the worst kinds, and they can get into your head fast. But we’ll be seeing a lot more of her.”
The Falcons’ defensive effort on the night was relentless. In addition to generating much of their offense from turnovers, they also limited New Dorp’s Olivia Andruszkow — easily the tallest player on the court with McKinney sitting — to just eight points.
“We pride ourselves on defensive fundamentals, which is something that you definitely need when playing a quality team like New Dorp,” Rizzo shared.
The head coach also pointed to his role players for having a massive impact on the game in terms of stepping up during McKinney’s absence, saying, “I’ve got to point to our bench. Jenna Salahaldin came out and gave us a huge spark.”
“Especially when Casey went down, the girls went on that run rather than folding, which was huge. It gave a lot of other players confidence and allowed them to start playing the way they were capable of.”
In addition to McKinney’s up-and-down night, fellow senior Danielle Harrell also reached double figures with 14 points, rounding out a rock-solid performance for Wagner’s fourth-years.
After a statement opening-night win and with 3-0 Stuyvesant up next, Rizzo returned to the facet that has defined the team’s DNA when asked what the Falcons will focus on in practice before Friday’s clash with the Phoenix —fundamentals.
Susan Wagner head coach Tom Rizzo addresses his bench during a meeting between Wagner and New Dorp on Dec. 3, 2025.Michael O’Brien
“We spend most of our practice time on the fundamentals, learning defense and all the little things that make a difference in a game. We’re not the most talented team this year, but we’re going to bring our best effort every night,” Rizzo concluded.
As the Falcons look to move to 2-0, New Dorp (1-1) will attempt to rebound with a meeting against HS Health Profession/Human Services up next on Dec. 9.