Long Island University’s Wellness Center was the site of Justine Perry’s biggest disappointment as a basketball player. Her Food and Finance team lost a heartbreaker to Baruch College Campus in last year’s PSAL Class A championship game at the Brooklyn school and Perry was in tears after, just devastated.
The 6-foot-4 senior center thinks about that moment all the time, including last week when she committed to play women’s basketball at LIU. Perry chose the Blackbirds over Mount St. Mary’s, Texas Southern and Tulsa.
“I think it’s kind of ironic,” she said.
Despite that crushing loss at the Wellness Center, Perry, a Bronx native, says the school just took a hold of her as soon as she entered it. She felt almost immediately that it was the right fit for her. It didn’t matter than LIU was close to home compared to the rest of her choices. It just felt right.
“Once I stepped into that gym, I felt a connection,” Perry said.
Perry, who played AAU this summer with the Gauchos, is a fearsome presence in the lane with her size and she’s tirelessly trying to improve on her conditioning and offensive game.
“I think I need to work on being more confident and dominating in the post,” Perry said.
Food and Finance coach Kinsley Kwateng said he saw a drastic change in her speed when she ran down an offensive player at the Rose Classic earlier this month and blocked her from behind, sending the ball into the bleachers.
“She’s nifty on her feet,” Kwateng said. “She’s quicker than her size will tell you.”
Perry is looking forward to this season. She thinks Food and Finance has what it takes to win the ‘A’ title this time. Kwateng has already put together a strong non-league schedule that will include a game against John F. Kennedy.
“My team is mentally and physically ready,” Perry said.
The loss last year to Baruch, she said, will be used for motivation. After all, she didn’t let it affect her college decision.
“She said, ‘I have to exorcise my demons,’” Kwateng said. “It’s funny how things work out.”
