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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
One of Brooklyn’s best girls basketball players is being railroaded out of a chance to lead her team to a championship thanks to an unfair suspension, say her team’s coach and school’s athletic director.
Nazareth High School junior guard Bianca Cuevas was banned from playing the rest of the season on Friday by a panel that oversees the Brooklyn-Queens Catholic High School girls basketball league after getting into a post-game fight with Bishop Ford guard Aaliyah Jones on Feb. 3.
It was the second time this season that Cuevas was scolded by officials for turning to fisticuffs. She was suspended two games for throwing a punch at Bishop Loughlin’s Imani Tate during a game in late January. Nazareth Athletic Director Anthony Barnes says this time his player did what she had to do.
“She defended herself, but because she was in that situation it’s considered a second offense [by the league], no matter whether she was defending herself or if she was attacked,” Barnes said. “Because she had an incident of that magnitude, the league decided to suspend her.”
Jones was also suspended two league games, according to sources. Bishop Ford athletic director Pete Goyco declined comment on Jones’ role in the fight and forwarded any comment about her suspension to League President Denise Hillig, who did not return phone messages Friday.
Barnes and Nazareth coach Ron Kelley believe the league is “railroading” Cuevas, considered the No. 24 ranked prospect in her class by The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Barnes said the league was initially looking into her being on the bench during games against Mary Louis and Ford during her suspension.
Barnes stated while the league had no rule on its books against suspended athletes being on the bench, it cited an NCAA rule that prohibits it. Cuevas played against St. Francis Prep on Feb. 6. Barnes said he got a phone call from St. Edmund principal John Lorenzetti, the head of the Principals Committee, prior to Nazareth’s game at Archbishop Molloy on the Feb. 13. He was told Cuevas was not allowed to play because she was on the bench during her suspension. She warmed up and watched her team lose from the stands.
Nazareth (13–9, 4–7) appealed the next day and was told Cuevas was reinstated, according to Barnes. Barnes was informed Wednesday by the league that they were also looking into Cuevas’ involvement in the fight with Jones before rendering a ruling Friday. The decision surprised Cuevas’ teammates.
“We didn’t now that was going to happen,” guard Shiclasia Brown said. “She didn’t do anything.”
Kelley hopes the suspension doesn’t further tarnish people’s perception of Cuevas in the future.
“She’s a competitor,” Kelley said. “Everyone has this thought about her that she’s a mean and nasty kid, but she’s not.”
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.