Capra adapts well to playing at next level
Former Old Bridge star named conference’s Rookie of the Year
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer

JIM SPIRAKIS/BRANDEIS SPORTS INFO. Old Bridge native junior Jaime Capra has found continued basketball success at the college level, and has emerged as a star as a member of the Brandeis University team.

With her first season of college basketball in the books, Old Bridge’s Jaime Capra is already looking forward to her sophomore campaign at Brandeis University.

The 5-foot-10 guard played a key role in Brandeis’ successful 23-4 campaign, which set a team record for wins and ended with the Judges capturing the ECAC championship. Capra played in all 27 games and finished second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.2 points. She was also second in rebounding, averaging 5.3 caroms. After the season, Capra was named as the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year.

“It was kind of strange at first, and it reminded me of being a freshman in high school when I was petrified to shoot,” Capra explained.

“Jaime had to learn that she wasn’t a freshman on the court, she was a player who was expected to contribute,” Coach Carol Simon said. “Actually, she didn’t play like a freshman for very long; Jaime quickly became a go-to person for us.”

The former Old Bridge High School star began the season in a reserve role and gradually received more playing time. In the Judges’ third game, a 58-40 win over Wellesley; Capra scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down 14 boards. After another 14-rebound performance in a victory against Wheaton, Simon inserted Capra in the starting lineup and kept her there for the rest of the year.

Her ability to beat opposing players off the dribble, take the ball to the hoop, and shoot from three-point range clearly complemented a young team that was going places.

And despite the more wearing college schedule, Capra improved with each game. Twice, she was named UAA Player of the Week, and her contributions increased. Capra scored 26 and 25 points in wins over the University of Chicago and Emory University; 19 in a triumph over Western New England and 18 in a success against Case Western Reserve. The Chicago game, in particular, boosted Capra’s confidence because her team was struggling for points — until she got hot.

“The good part of being a freshman is that nobody knew who I was,” said Capra, who was often double- or triple-teamed during her high school days. “Defenses can’t pay too much attention to any one player because everyone is so good. It’s really a team game.”

Capra’s contributions went beyond scoring and rebounding. She concentrated more on her defensive play, and Simon encouraged her to be more aggressive.

By the end of the year, Simon frequently assigned Capra to cover the opposition’s top scorer.

“Playing harder on defense was a big adjustment for me, and it wasn’t something I really focused on in high school,” she explained. “I was tentative at first, but I took it as a challenge and I think the coaches were surprised I did so well.”

Simon, who just completed her 18th year on the Brandeis bench, respectfully disagreed with that sentiment.

“We really stress defense here, and a player will not get on the floor if she doesn’t work hard on that part of the game,” Simon said. “Jaime is a good defender, she just had to learn how to play team defense and know that she would get support if someone beat her. Once she realized that, she was fine.”

Meanwhile, Brandeis was a juggernaut on the floor, with only a late-season 60-47 loss to NYU that prevented the Judges from receiving an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Brandeis recovered and dominated the ECAC tourney the way Perry Mason regularly outwitted Hamilton Burger in the old TV show. The Judges downed Western New England, 64-40; Norwich, 83-70; and Fitchburg State, 91-65, to win the title.

In addition to her UAA Rookie of the Year trophy, Capra was selected second-team All-New England by D3hoops.com.

“We had a great season, and next year we’re going to get into the NCAAs,” Capra said. “I’m very proud of what we accomplished and I really learned a lot this year.”

She also experienced the whirlwind pace of college athletics — planes, trains, buses, practice from October through March, living just outside of Boston, and says she has learned to better manage her time as a result.

“I had to make a lot of adjustments this year,” Capra said. “Not only is the level of play much tougher, but the schedule is very tough, much more difficult than I thought. It’s very physical, and I learned to play through minor injuries; there’s really not much time for rest. Then, add in the fact that this is an academically challenging school.”

The work doesn’t stop now that the season is over. In addition to classes, Capra will be working on strength and conditioning to prepare for next season. But she will need a bit more time to explore the vibrant atmosphere of Boston and, of course, the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Capra is a Yankee fan.

“Jaime’s a great kid and she did the things we expected her to do,” Simon said. “I see her getting better and better. Next year, we want her to handle the ball a little more and to take some more threes. She’s not the kind of person who will rest of her laurels. I’m expecting great things from her in the future.”