LAKE HUNTINGTON- “Journey of a thousand miles begins with single step,” averred Confucius, the sage Chinese philosopher. While a basketball season amounts to far less distance it is nonetheless a sojourn that, like all others, has a definitive beginning.

For the Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs under 2018 Sullivan County Democrat Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Pat Donovan that beginning took place in a 34-25 non-league loss to James I. O'Neill on Tuesday, a team also in transition under its new coach Adam DiBenedetto.

Both squads showed their need for much work in the coming weeks with missed shots, turnovers and errant passes. For Sullivan West now missing its iconic stars Sabrina and Josephine Martinez as well as standout Izzy Nearing, all of whom graduated last June, it is a matter of learning to play together and a clearer definition of roles.

Donovan was trying to assess how best to fit those pieces together at the point guard position among senior Kerintin Burr, sophomore Grace Boyd and junior Chloe Barber. Barber led Sullivan West with seven points. Burr and post presence Taylor Hall each had four. Burr is the only returning experienced veteran from last year's team.

Sullivan West was one-for-six from the free throw line (16.6 percent). O'Neill was paced by nine points from Aniyah Lewis.

The Lady Raiders tuned up for the opener with scrimmages against Marlboro and Haldane. They were six for 17 from the free throw line (35 percent).

Donovan said, “We looked good at times but at other times we looked like what we are, a brand-new team. We haven't played together except from the last three weeks. We just build from here. We had a lot of turnovers and that's going to come with a brand new group of kids. We're little and fast and we did create a lot of turnovers and we know where the spots are that we need to be. It's a process.”

Sullivan West is headed to the Schenevus Tournament. DiBenedetto recognized his team's tendency to rush things. “We have to be able to take the pressure without rushing that leads to mistakes. O'Neill also created a spate of turnovers but often was unable to capitalize on them.

O'Neill is at Livingston Manor today in another non-league encounter.