News > Girls' Varsity > Capsules
12/05/06
Monroe County girls basketball capsules
(December 5, 2006) — Division I
Brockport
Coach: Kathy Boughton (22nd year overall, 8th at Brockport, 308-118).
Last year: 6-13, lost in Class AAA quarterfinals.
2006-07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (4): Andrea Leasure (5-9 sr. F), 9 points per game, 9 rebounds per game; Emma VanDenburg (5-8 jr. G/F), 8 ppg; Lindsay Hage (5-5, jr. G), 11 ppg, 5 steals pg, 4 assists pg; Rachel Popowych (5-7 sr. F).
Probable starting lineup: Leasure, VanDenburg, Hage, Popowych, Hilary Warren (5-6 jr. G).
Outlook: The run-and-gun Blue Devils will use their speed to make up for a lack of size in the post.
Brockport runs a three-guard offense, and Hage has developed into a solid penetrator who can also shoot. Leasure and VanDenburg are the main threats in the paint, and Boughton likes VanDenburg's inside-outside game.
Hage, a three-year starter at point guard, is "quick as lightning and our best defender," Boughton says. "She has to be our go-to player in the key situations, the one who wants the ball and will be either the goat or the hero."
Depth will be an issue, but Boughton is counting on solid contributions from sophomore guards Justine Moore and Kaleigh Mutton.
Churchville-Chili
Coach: Ryan Raftery (7th year, 85-40).
Last year: 12-8, lost in Class AAA semifinals.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (4) Brittany Williams (5-7 jr. G), 13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg; Morgan Skiff (5-8 jr. G), 17.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.2 apg; Keanna Baker (6-1 jr. F) 4.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg; Anastasia Strembenis (5-7 jr. G) 3.5 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Williams, Skiff, Baker, Strembenis, Briona Jones (5-8 jr. G).
Outlook: The Saints have enough of a solid nucleus to contend and capable scorers in Williams and Skiff, they just need to get healthy. Skiff (broken bone in hand) and Strembenis (broken bone in foot) missed much of the fall season with injuries but should return this month. Jones, a transfer from East, could be an impact player in Raftery's up-tempo style, but she's coming back from a knee injury in July and broke her wrist in September.
Depth could be an issue.
"We're extremely athletic and intelligent," Raftery said. "I think this unit could really surprise a few teams this year."
Fairport
Coach: Scott Forrest (3rd year, 24-17).
Last year: 10-10, lost in Class AAA semifinals.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starting starters: (2) Brittany Wilson (5-11 jr. G/F), 17 ppg, 9.1 rpg; Caitlin McKinnon (5-11 jr. F/C), 9.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg.
Probable lineup: Wilson, McKinnon, Allyson DiMagno (5-10 fr. F), Shelby Vakiener (5-6 soph. G), Tanisha Travis (5-11 jr. F).
Outlook: Only four players return from last year's squad, and one of the missing is blossoming guard Claire Howe, who transferred to Pittsford Mendon.
Wilson is the game-changer in the Red Raiders' Princeton-style offense, with lots of screens and back-door passes. "She needs to touch the ball every possession; she's our creator, the one who gets our offense going, but we also need her to finish," Forrest says of the junior, who can play power forward, small forward or shooting guard.
The Red Raiders were outrebounded last year, but with four starters 5-feet-11 or taller, Forrest is confident Fairport can dominate the boards. The young girls had better mature in a hurry if Fairport is going to be competitive.
Gates Chili
Coach: Kendra Damann (4th year, 14-64).
Last year: 2-18, lost in Class AAA quarterfinals.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (2) Kayla McGill (5-6 jr. G), 11.2 ppg; Lindsay Kendall (5-9 soph. F), 10.2 ppg, 5 rpg.
Probable starting lineup: McGill, Kendall, Summer Jensen (5-6 soph. G), Marissa DiLaura (5-5 sr. G), Bridget Riley (5-9 sr. F).
Outlook: McGill and Kendall are the leading scorers for a Spartans squad that will struggle to score points at times. McGill has the "ability to create her own shot, but she can also penetrate and isn't afraid to pull up for the jumper, while Kendall spent a lot of time this off-season working on her toughness in the post, being able to take a bump or two and still convert the layup," Damann says.
Gates Chili will try to run more than last year, and it has the athletes to push the up-tempo offense.
Penfield
Coach: Mark Vogt (6th year, 75-31).
Last year: 16-5, lost in Class AAA final.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (2) Kim Masterton (5-9 sr. G), 7 ppg; Erica Yohannes (5-10 jr. G), 9.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg.
Probable starting lineup: Masterton, Yohannes, Jessica Harmon (5-10 jr. G), Alyssa Barrett (5-7 jr. G), Mary Kate Mahany (5-11 jr. F).
Outlook: Masterton (17 points in win over Brockport) and Yohannes (18 points in win over Fairport) are the leaders expected to help replace three first-team All County members (Jamie Malloy, Kayleigh Duda and Heather Montgomery). Both have good range on 3-pointers, but Vogt wants Masterton to attack the hoop more.
"She will loosen up defenses with the '3' and then slash and attack the post with her quick penetration," Vogt says. "She's got more energy and intensity than anyone I've had in a while; she's fearless taking the ball to the basket."
The Patriots will pressure on defense to set up their transition offense. Mahany, who is an Irish dancer with "incredible footwork," will need to anchor the back of the defense.
Rush-Henrietta
Coach: Steve Shepanski (3rd year, 43-7).
Last year: 24-2, won Class AAA state title, lost to Christ the King in the championship of the Federation Tournament.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (4) Shenise Johnson (5-11 jr. F) 19.5 ppg, 17.1 rpg, 4.2 apg, Eva Riddick (6-3 sr. F) 8.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4 blocks pg, Bria Jackson (5-4 sr. G) 11.2 ppg, 7.1 apg, Melanie McFadden (5-7 sr. G) 8 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Johnson, Riddick, Jackson, McFadden, Alysha Poles (5-9 sr. F) 4 ppg, 4 rpg.
Outlook: With four starters back from a state championship squad, including the ultra-talented Johnson, the Comets know their season starts at Section V Tournament time. Shepanski's focus is to have them concentrate on continual improvement. Johnson can win games almost single-handedly from inside or out, but her supporting cast, led by AGR pick Jackson, is good, too. She's a solid floor leader and streaky shooter, and McFadden is also dangerous from deep. The emergence of Riddick could take R-H to the next level. She earned a scholarship to Delaware after one varsity season as a starter and a good showing in Empire State Games and AAU ball.
Webster Schroeder
Coach: Andrew Welker, 1st year.
Last year: 4-15, lost in Class AAA first round.
'06-'07 classification: AAA.
Returning starters: (3) Chelsea Lindahl (5-10 sr. G/F), Margaret Rogalski (5-11 sr. F), Lauren Lorow (5-4 sr. G).
Probable starting lineup: Lindahl, Rogalski, Lorow, Kayleigh Comfort (5-8 jr. G/F), Cristina Sniezek (5-7 sr. G).
Outlook: Rogalski, who has a good presence in the post, can also hit 10- to 12-foot jumpers and scored 20 points in the Warriors' season opener.
Schroeder is experienced with seven seniors, but the team is "still learning how to play as a team. We've got the athletic talent; it's just a matter of getting the team to become more basketbal-savvy. On offense, as we learn more and more about how to read screens, we will improve," Welker says.
Comfort is the most versatile defender, who can man-up on the perimeter but doesn't mind posting up in the paint. Sniezek is a quick, agile defender who takes on the sharp-shooters out on the perimeter.
Division II
Greece Arcadia
Coach: Scott Smith (10th year).
Last year: 16-5, lost in Class AA semifinals.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (3) Megan Shoniker (5-9 sr. G) 25 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.7 assists, 3.9 steals; Jessica Shufelt (5-8 jr. G-F) 7 ppg; Courtney Ayers (5-10 jr. G-F).
Probable starting lineup: Shoniker, Shufelt, Ayers, NaQuesha Britton (5-11 fr. F); Laura Hartung (5-6 jr. G) 10 ppg.
Outlook: Shoniker, a three-time AGR pick and sharpshooter who helped the Titans win the state title as a freshman, begins her final season with a little more help than she has had for the past couple of years, and that includes size in the paint in Britton, a transfer from Franklin, and Jessica Sexton, another 5-11 freshman.
"We're a work in progress, but that (size) is something we haven't had," Smith said. "I like what I see, though. Hopefully Megan can steer us through the early part of the season and we'll keep getting better."
Greece Athena
Coach: Mike Butler (5th year, 71-19).
Last year: 19-3, Class AA champions, lost in state qualifier.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (4) Jori Davis (5-10 sr. G-F) 23.4 ppg, 9 rpg; Melissa Alwardt (5-10 sr. F) 15 ppg, 8 rpg; Lauren Telban (5-3 sr. PG); Heather Meyris (5-9 sr. F).
Probable lineup: Kelly Sullivan (5-6 sr. G), Davis, Alwardt, Telban, Meyris.
Outlook: Coming off two straight Section V Class AA titles and three in the past four years, Athena is again the team to beat in Division II and might be the only local squad that can hang with state power Rush-Henrietta.
Six of the top seven players return, led by AGR pick Davis, who is headed to Indiana University. She's a dynamic penetrator, good shooter and rebounder. But Alwardt can also be a game-changer as a rebounder and 3-point shooter.
"She does all the little things," Butler said.
Forward Amanda Prestigiacomo, a 5-10 AGR soccer goalie, adds depth up front.
Greece Olympia
Coach: Josh Elder (4th year, 15-42).
Last year: 7-12, lost in Class AA first round.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (1) Amber Muelendyk (5-6 jr. G).
Probable starting lineup: Muelendyk; Brittany Agness (5-6 sr. G); Caitlin Hanna (5-9 sr. F); Sarah Frisicano (5-6 sr. G); Mary O'Connor (5-11 soph. C).
Outlook: The Spartans will count on Frisicano's outside shooting ability in close games. O'Connor, nearly a six-footer, has tremendous potential to become one of the league's top rebounding and scoring threats in the future. Greece Olympia relies on speed and team defense.
Hilton
Coach: Jeff Eichas (3rd year, 9-31).
Last year: 5-15, lost in second round of Class AA.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (3) Casey Reinhardt (5-6 sr. G), 7 ppg; Tara Larkin (5-4 jr. G), Christina Ward (5-9 jr. F).
Probable starting lineup: Reinhardt, Larkin, Ward, Kate Reinhardt (5-7 jr. F), Caitlin Coleman (5-4, jr. G).
Outlook: Casey Reinhardt, in her third year as starting point guard, gives the Cadets consistency on offense. Coleman, a transfer from Mercy, is the catalyst on offense who can drain the perimeter shots or drive to the basket.
"She's one of the most disruptive players, very tough to guard/handle," Eichas says. "You just never know what she's going to do with the ball."
Hilton's primary concern is finding a go-to scorer it can rely on at the end of close games. Coleman seems poised to be the one willing to step up and score.
Irondequoit
Coach: Lance Brown (22nd year, 219-223).
Last year: 9-10, lost in Class AA first round.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (2) Emily Kane (5-5 jr. G) 6.2 ppg; Katie Foust (6-3 jr. C) 7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg.
Probable starting lineup: Kane, Foust, Trisha Lampi (5-7 jr. G), Lindsay Ellsworth (5-7 jr. F); Keri Soppe (5-3 eighth-grade G).
Outlook: With four junior starters and a talented eighth-grader in the starting lineup, the Eagles might be a year away from taking flight, but Brown likes his squad's potential. Soppe, only the second eighth-grader to start in Brown's 22 seasons, led the JV in scoring last winter. If Foust comes back from a recent knee injury, she should be a tough matchup down low.
Spencerport
Coach: Jake Lenhard (1st year).
Last year: 16-5, lost Class AA final.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (3): Andrea Kazmierski (5-8 sr. G), 11.2 ppg; Angela Bopp (5-10 sr. F), 7.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Allie Dietrick (5-7 sr. G).
Probable starting lineup: Kazmierski, Bopp, Dietrick, Natalie Mundt (5-4 jr. G), Ashley Green (5-10 sr. F).
Outlook: Lenhard takes over the reins for Mike Decillis, who guided the Rangers to the Class AA title game, but Spencerport also lost Kacey Pratt, its imposing inside scorer.
Kazmierski is a four-year starter who with Bopp will shoulder most of the scoring load on a defense-oriented team. Finding a consistent third scoring option in Tara Caples or Gina DeBellis will determine how successful Spencerport is. Mundt is a "speed demon" at the point who can cause matchup problems defensively.
With the exception of the three returning starters, the Rangers are raw on varsity experience. "Kazmierski has been instrumental in guiding the younger girls, but it will be interesting to see what happens when we take the court," Lenhard says.
Webster Thomas
Coach: Jamie Fagan (3rd year, 13-25).
Last year: 10-9, lost in Class AA quarterfinals.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (3) Marissa Canori (5-6 sr. G), 10 ppg, 3 steals; Cass Beasley (5-9 sr. G/F), 4 ppg, 5 rpg; Kristin Abbott (5-10 sr. G/F), 6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 steals.
Probable starting lineup: Canori, Beasley, Abbott, Sara Gleisle (5-10 sr. C), Megan Dellavilla (5-5 jr. G).
Outlook: Canori and Abbott are the offensive threats, but Fagan is most excited about Dellavilla, his point guard.
"She's the X-factor. She's the first true point guard in our five-year history; we've never had someone who really runs the offense and can get the ball to our scorers," Fagan said. "She has the ability to average double figures in assists, and I think when it's over she's someone people will take notice of."
Abbot has a nose for the basket, but she also hit 40 percent of her 3-pointers last year. Canori, a member of the varsity for five years, is "an intense defender."
Division III
Batavia
Coach: Mark Hamilton (3rd year, 21-19).
Last year: 12-8, lost in Class A quarterfinals.
'06-07 classification: A.
Returning starters: (1) Anne Palermo (5-6 jr. G), 5 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Palermo; Alyssa Tretter (5-8 jr. F), 9 ppg; Mary Zinni (5-6 jr. G) 6 ppg; Rachel Johnson (5-8 jr. F), Rosa Williams (5-8 jr. F).
Outlook: The Blue Devils return only three players from last year's team and have no seniors. Tretter, who averaged nine points and nine rebounds per game last year coming off the bench, should see her production increase significantly.
With only nine players on the roster and seven being juniors, sophomores Jaycee Shark and Britt Mazurkiewicz will be asked to fill roles off the bench.
Brighton
Coach: Ralph Damerell (4th year, 27-32).
Last year: 5-14, lost in Class A first round.
'06-'07 classification: AA.
Returning starters: (3) Carly Morgan (5-10 sr. F), 6 ppg; Lindsay Hunt (5-8 jr. G), 8 ppg; Brenna Bauer (5-5 so. G), 6 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Morgan; Hunt; Bauer; Sarah Drake (5-5 sr. G), 2 ppg; Tamara Zelenjakovic (5-9 sr. F) 2 ppg.
Outlook: Look for Bauer to mature after averaging six points per game last season as a freshman. Junior forward Hunt, the team's top returning scorer, should also see a sizable improvement in scoring.
Brighton lacks size and will be counting on its speed to stay competitive in the division.
East Irondequoit Eastridge
Coach: Rick Piacentini (6th year, 37-62).
Last year: 7-12, lost in Class A first round.
'06-'07 classification: A.
Returning starters: (3) Amber French (5-8 sr. G), 5.1 ppg; Kate Heckman (5-10 sr. G), 4.7 ppg; Brittany Hannah (5-6 sr. G), 6.1 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: French; Heckman; Hannah; Emily Brophy (5-4 eighth-grade G), Kaela Trifero (5-8 soph. C).
Outlook: This is the youngest team Piacentini has coached in his six years and also the most athletic. The Lancers have two eighth-graders, a freshman, and four sophomores who will see significant playing time. Piacentini realizes there is a learning curve and is very excited about the promise of this group.
Eastridge has had four scrimmages to get the younger players experience.
Greece Odyssey
Coach: Dale Meier (4th year, 56-32).
Last year: 13-8, Class B champions, lost in B state qualifier.
'06-'07 classification: B.
Returning starters: (2) Amber Leonard (5-9 jr. G), 8 ppg; Alanna Stein (5-6 jr. G), 2 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Leonard; Stein; Sarah Van Auken (5-8 sr. F), 2 ppg; Carolyn Dunne (6-0 sr. C), 2 ppg; Kourtney Damann (6-0 soph. F).
Outlook: The defending Class B champions have two seniors on the roster and will rely on sophomores and juniors to take a bigger role. The Leopards return both starting guards (Leonard and Stein) and expect big things out of sophomore forward Damann, who averaged 12 points and seven rebounds last year on junior varsity. Damann and Dunne are both 6-footers, which could be a big advantage against smaller teams.
Odyssey, which has won three consecutive Section V titles, will need to fill the leadership and scoring roles left by the graduation of twins Hannah and Olivia Meier.
Pittsford Mendon
Coach: Todd Julien (7th year, 106-24).
Last year: 16-4, lost in Class A semifinals.
'06-'07 classification: A.
Returning starters: (4) Jackie Ward (5-8 sr. PG) 16.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 7.4 apg, 6.1 spg; Colleen McCready (5-11 sr. F) 10 ppg, 7 rpg; Kaelyn Gibson (5-11 soph. F) 9 ppg, 11 rpg; Stephanie Ruback (5-10 jr. F) 8 ppg.
Probable starting lineup: Ward, McCready, Gibson, Ruback, Claire Howe (5-7 sr. G).
Outlook: The Vikings will battle rival Sutherland again for the division crown, and led by two-time league Player of the Year Ward, they have plenty of firepower to do so. But they also have added Howe, a transfer from Fairport who started for the Red Raiders last year. The sister of former Fairport star Caitlin Howe, Claire moved to Pittsford with her family. McCready, Gibson and Ruback give Mendon a sizeable frontcourt that can match up with Sutherland's, and 5-11 eighth-grader Shelby Fogarty is available off the bench.
Pittsford Sutherland
Coach: Dan Judd (7th year, 86-48).
Last year: 21-5, won Class A state championship, lost in Federation tournament.
'06-'07 classification: A.
Returning starters: (4) Gloria Coan (6-0 sr. F) 10 ppg, 5.2 rpg; Karalyn Reitz (5-7 sr. G) 8.7 ppg, 3.1 apg; Morgan Johanson (5-9 sr. G) 7.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg; Brittany Greco (5-9 jr. F) 5.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg.
Probable starting lineup: Coan, Reitz, Johanson, Greco, Bridget Ryan (5-11 fr. F) 6.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg.
Outlook: The Knights have almost all of the key players back from last year's surprising state championship club, and they'll beat plenty of teams again with hustling defense and ferocious rebounding, aided by their overall size. But there's one big question: How well will the offense and fastbreak flow without AGR point guard Rachel Murphy?
Reitz will take over and also can supply some long-range shooting, as Murphy did. Coan also is a good scorer. Sutherland will win a lot of "ugly games," but that won't be much different from last year, and the Knights went all the way to a state title.
Wayne County
East Rochester
Coach: Heather Clement (1st year).
Last year: 8-12, lost in the first round of sectionals to Gananda.
'06-'07 classification: CCC.
Returning starters: (5) Liz Tice (5-7 sr. F); Krista Archambeau (5-5 sr. G); Samantha Cavallaro (5-2 jr. G); Tasha Parker (5-11, jr. F); Jessenia Andujar (5-7, soph G/F).
Probable starting lineup: Tice, Archambeau, Cavallaro, Parker, Andujar.
Outlook: Clement, who spent a year coaching modified and then three coaching junior varsity, moves up to the varsity and thinks the Bombers will benefit from having the entire starting lineup back.
"It gives us much more experience and a deep bench," Clement said. "The girls just work hard, they hustle, and hopefully we can put everything together."
Andujar was ER's top scorer last season, but Clement has high hopes for the whole lineup.
"I think we have a good core starting group and everyone contributes in their own way," she said. "They all have their own assests they add to the game. We just have to stay confident in ourselves and our ability."
— Jeff DiVeronica, John Boccacino, Matt Weinstein and Robyn J. Kraft