Season preview: girls basketball

0
326

Naugatuck

2019-20 results: 15-5 NVL (15-7 overall); made NVL quarterfinals; made first round of Class L tournament

Graduated: Brielle Behuniak, Hailey Russell, Alissa McNeil

Seniors: None

Season opener: Feb. 12 at Torrington

The Greyhounds not only lost key players to graduation they also lost two-time, All-NVL junior Sara Macary, who transferred to Notre Dame.

Without any seniors, Naugy first-year head coach Adam Purcaro will look to a solid junior class to lead the team. Juniors Kaylee Jackson (All-Iron), Kendall Allen, J.J. Magalhaes, Saige Winslow and Jourdyn Brown were all named captains.

Sophomores Lauryn Ramalho and Sophia Defilippo as well as freshmen Aryn Bombery and Laniah Diaz give Naugy a solid group to work with.

“We lost about 75% of our scoring from last season,” Purcaro said. “I think we have solid leadership and they are all excellent athletes. We are optimistic. I think we can be really tough, but you never know until you are out there. We are in a unique situation. We are young but we have a lot of girls who have experience. I’m confident that we can get better each day and play real well together as a team.”

Woodland

2019-20 results: 14-6 NVL (15-8 overall); made NVL quarterfinals; made second round of Class M tournament

Graduated: Katlyn Sirowich, Jillian Barbarito, Danie Meder

Seniors: Ava DeLucia (captain)

Season opener: Feb. 10 at Ansonia

The Hawks are looking to build on last season, when they hosted a state tournament game for the first time in over a decade.

Armed with just one senior, the junior class is battle-tested led by Gabby Mastropietro (All-Copper), Andra Bojka (All-Copper), Kylie Bulinski, Riley Kane, Chelsea Donovan and Madison Andrews. Freshman Casey Mulligan will also be a go-to player for the Hawks.

“We are past that learning curve,” said Woodland head coach Jess Moffo, who will have the Hawks’ all-time leading scorer, Heather Framski, as her assistant this season. “I think the girls have adjusted real well to what we have to do. They are working extremely hard and I think our experience from last year is really going to help us. The key is to make every day count, and the girls are excited to have coach Framski on the sidelines.”