On Saturday March 7, 2026 the top seed boys varsity basketball team secured their 6TH consecutive Nassau County Championship at Farmingdale State College destroying the Port Washington team with a score of 47-40. The Baldwin Bruins showed tremendous speed, strength, and unmatched consistency. With a fully packed crowd cheering them on the entire game, the team showed signs of nervousness, but they pushed through it and claimed the Nassau County Champion Crown for the SIXTH year in a row.
During the middle of the second quarter the Baldwin Bruins were down 13 points against Port Washington and with the county title on the line, the team was getting nervous and frustrated. But,with still a little faith left the Baldwin Bruins team came up with a game plan to try and ultimately win. In the fourth quarter they rallied together and got six points more on the board clinching the win against Port Washington 47-40 in the Nassau Class AAA Final. The team showed determination, hard work, sportsmanship, and most importantly teamwork with each player helping and encouraging each other every step of the way.
Baldwin reigns supreme with another county title!
“It was unbelievable,” Coach Burton said, who was also named coach of the year and guided the team to this championship title. One player caught everyone’s attention and focus, his name is Rian Gittens. Rian Gittens is a Baldwin senior, who was injured for almost 2 months, but he came back stronger than ever. Rian entered the game in the second quarter, his first game back, leading his team with a high of 14 points. He gave the Bruins an edge, sinking 4 three pointers! Gittens said, “ I put the work in”
The whole team won the crowd over, who were cheering them on the whole way. At the end everyone was on their feet giving praise and saying “Baalldwinn!!!”. Coach Burton said “I have been blessed with a tremendous amount of talent in Baldwin for the 26 years I’ve coached, A great team.”
Senior Point Guard, Ethan Sainsbury said “I’ve always loved winning. I always like to say, “I hate losing more than I like to win.” and he said “ I’ve won championships, AAU, little leagues” Ethan Sainsbury also added 9 points and set a record with this championship, being the first 4 year varsity player in Baldwin history to win 4 county titles. The Baldwin Bruins also had a phenomenal, back breaking season, with 21 wins and 3 loses.
From first hand experience of going to a lot of their games, I can proudly say that they put their all into each and every game. They play with excellent leadership, teamwork, determination, grit, and effort. Congratulations to the Boys Bruins Basketball team the 2026 NASSAU COUNTY CHAMPS!!!!
