Ocean City's Paul Baruffi is S.J. girls' basketball coach of the year
Throughout her four years on the Ocean City girls' basketball team, it became a normal occurrence: "He'd be like, 'I promise, this is the last set we're going to run,' " said senior point guard Grace Sacco. "Then the next practice, he has three more offenses.
Throughout her four years on the Ocean City girls' basketball team, it became a normal occurrence: "He'd be like, 'I promise, this is the last set we're going to run,' " said senior point guard Grace Sacco. "Then the next practice, he has three more offenses.
"The coaches were always throwing something together, and usually it was to our advantage."
This season, Ocean City won 30 games, including Cape-Atlantic League and South Jersey Group 3 titles.
The Red Raiders were the most cohesive unit in the area, a team with veterans who knew each other and understood the system they were in.
And that system - one of the most precise and methodical in South Jersey - is the trademark of Paul Baruffi, this year's coach of the year in South Jersey girls' basketball.
Baruffi's teams are always easy to spot.
His style is old school. His offense is fueled by distinct half-court sets and few opportunities for improvisation.
He likes it when games are low scoring, allowing his offense to be patient with each possession and his defense to blanket opposing teams.
Both ends of the court worked like a machine this season, particularly his defense, which allowed 30 or more points just 12 times in 32 games.
"He's really intense, and he knows how to motivate us in the right way," said senior shooting guard Alexis Paone. "He means a lot to me. He encourages us all the time. He'll complement us when we do well but also definitely point out what we need to work on. He's developed all of us into great players."
"He's helped me grow on and off the court," Sacco added.
Baruffi's system tends to be consistent year after year.
But what stood out this season was his instinct in knowing when to open the game up.
He encouraged his team to push the tempo in the second half of the South Jersey Group 3 title game, and the Red Raiders, tied with Mainland at the break, won 38-31.
In the state semifinals, Ocean City trailed at halftime before a dramatic comeback led to a one-point overtime win against Ewing.
According to Baruffi, any in-game change he made came down to the trust he had in his players.
"They all learned what their roles were," Baruffi said. "The combination of them being athletic and understanding where to be on the court led to a lot of success for us this year."
Ocean City fell in the state championship in a three-point loss to Pascack Valley that saw the Red Raiders almost complete another dramatic comeback.
"That's what they've done all year. I knew we wouldn't quit," Baruffi said after the game. "I'm proud of this team."