Woodland co-captains show underclassmen the way
BEACON FALLS — This season hasn’t been the easiest one for the Woodland girls basketball team — a 7-12 record with one game remaining in the regular season against Kaynor Tech on Friday. But that was expected with a group that includes nearly a dozen freshmen and a half-dozen sophomores.
Hawks coach Jess Moffo hopes this season will be the last one for a few years in which her team enters the final regular season game needing a win to clinch a state tournament berth. If these current underclassmen eventually turn this experience into success, they’ll have a couple of old captains to thank.
Woodland senior Hana Bojka and junior Jill Barbarito are the Hawks’ co-captains this season. They aren’t always the team’s leading scorers — oftentimes those honors go to a freshman — but they’ve been more important to this team than points ever could be.
“I think the toughest thing has been helping to mature the freshmen,” said Bojka, the only senior on the roster. “We have a lot of them this year, so showing them what it’s like to be on a team (has been important). Everyone comes with a good attitude and we all encourage each other to do our best.”
“I took this year as an opportunity to take everyone under my wing and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got this,’” Barbarito agreed. “We’ve taken this as a learning year so we can come back stronger next season. I just wanted to show them what it’s like to be a leader and how everyone can do it, even if you’re not a captain. I just knew I had to set good examples for the younger kids. I had to stay positive no matter the situation.”
That hasn’t always been easy for Woodland, which suffered a pair of overtime losses during the middle of the season and endured a handful of come-from-ahead defeats. Those times tested the leadership abilities of the captains.
“Some of the toughest things have been taking away positives from a game,” Barbarito said. “The Sacred Heart game (Jan. 23), for example, we were up at the half and we were playing a great game. Even though we ended up losing (47-25), I wanted to remind them that we barely committed any turnovers and I wanted to use that for the future.”
That game against the Hearts remains one of Woodland’s most bitter losses as the Hawks played toe-to-toe with the defending Naugatuck Valley League champion for nearly three quarters before floundering over the last 11 minutes.
Woodland’s consistent competitiveness, though, is one trait that Moffo points to when emphasizing the importance of her captains.
“They’ve kept (the underclassmen) working hard every day in practice,” Moffo said. “Our record doesn’t show what we’ve done. We haven’t gotten embarrassed or blown out. We’ve played with every team in the league. From the scrimmages to now, we’re a totally different team. It’s because of those two (captains).”
Bojka spent her first two years in the program with her older sister, Morina, who transferred from Chase Collegiate to Woodland in time to play two seasons for the Black and Gold. Hana said she took note of the leadership abilities of the 1,000-point scorer.
“I really looked up to her to learn how to become a leader,” Bojka said. “She really went into every game thinking that her team would win, so that’s been something I’ve wanted to do this season.”
Moffo gushes about Bojka, counting her among the most impactful players she’s ever coached.
“Out of anyone on the team, I’m probably hardest on (Hana), but she takes it in stride,” Moffo said. “She’s leading them in practice, she leads them on and off the court. She’s a positive role model and is one of the best kids in the school. If any of her teammates needs her, she’s there 110 percent. I’m going to miss her. She’s crucial to anything we’ve done this year.”
Barbarito has a more consistent scoring role for the Hawks and Moffo hopes she expands that ability into next season.
“We’ve got her for another year, thank God,” Moffo said. “She’s improving day by day. She’s playing very well right now and is very confident. The girls look up to her and lean on her. Hopefully next year, they won’t have to lean on her so much, and it’ll take the pressure off of her.”
The coach isn’t the only one who sees the potential within the underclassmen. Both captains agree, and they envision some lofty expectations.
“I think this group can put up the first (girls basketball championship) banner at Woodland,” Barbarito said. “They’re a great group with a lot of potential. They’re amazing athletes and they work hard, and I think they can do some damage in the league for years to come.”
Bojka foresees a more enduring legacy — one that she will someday play a small part long after she’s graduated.
“I hope they can put up a banner one day,” Bojka said. “I just hope they can lead their freshmen one day when they’re seniors so they can rebuild their team like I think I did this year.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the article published in the Feb. 14 edition of the Citizen’s News to reflect Woodland’s record including games played after press time.
