Section V Girls’ Basketball tips off the 2021-22 season in late November. Here are the season previews for Batavia, Eastridge, Greece Odyssey, Greece Olympia, Honeoye Falls-Lima and Pittsford Sutherland:
BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (Class B1)
Last season record and finish: 10-5, lost in Class B1 sectional final to Palmyra-Macedon
Coach: Marty Hein/John McCulley
Top returners: Jaylene Dersham Sr. G; Mackenzie Harmon Sr. F; Tianna Rhim Sr. F
Top newcomers: Ava Anderson Fr. G; Julia Clark So. G; Jaimin Macdonald Fr. F; Julia Preston Fr. F; Julia Petry Jr. C; Olivia Shell Jr. G; Anna Varland So. G; Isabella Walsh So. G/F
Outlook: “Graduating seven seniors last year, we once again have become a young team. But what we lack in experience, we make up for in athleticism. We have hardly any drop off from top to bottom on this squad. Every girl has the capability to score four to seven points a game, which should make us tough to defend. But our real key to having any success will rely on our defense. Defense is what we will be stressing the most. Our three senior captains, Tianna, Mackenzie and Jaylene, will be very helpful in leading this young group to get better each and every day with the hopes of making some noise once again come sectionals time.”
First game: December 3rd at Elba at 7 p.m.
VIEW MORE SUE KANE PHOTOS HERE.
EASTRIDGE LANCERS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 2-8, did not qualify for sectionals
Coach: Cory Lancer (Fifth season)
Top returners: Faith Bauer Sr. F; Madyson Fizer Fr. G/F (8.8 RPG); Nora Miller Jr. G (15 PPG, 7.5 RPG, All-County First Team last season)
Top newcomers: Grace Devlin So. G; Ada Krupa Fr. G; Ella Scantlin So. F
Outlook: “We are a young team with a lot of talent and potential. The girls have been working hard and playing together to learn each other’s style. The girls have been dedicating to improve with each day. We should have a deeper bench than last year with several options to go to. Nora Miller returns as an All-County First Team player who averaged 15 points per game. Madyson Fizer has been stepping up, playing with more confidence this year and is a solid defensive player with offensive potential every game. Losing a three-year starting point guard will hurt, but the addition of Ada Krupa will help the team with a solid ball handler to lead the offense.”
First game: December 3rd at Brockport at 8:30 p.m.
GREECE ODYSSEY LEOPARDS (Class B1)
Last season record and finish: 0-10, did not qualify for sectionals
Coach: Curtis Birthwright (Second season, 0-10 career record)
Top returners: Jenayla Hunter Sr. G (9 PPG last season); Dhelilia Jimenez Jr. C/F; Asia Philip Jr. F/G (14 PPG, 10 RPG last season); Jennifer Rizzo So. G; Sienna Tyo Sr. F/G (9 PPG, 7 APG last season)
Top newcomers: Rachell Gonzalez So. F/G; Brealle Pope Jr. F/G; Alexis Smith So. F/G
Outlook: “The Leopards have a balance of experience and youth. Every player has made a commitment to work hard in practice and for their sister competing next to them. It’s been a long time coming since we have had Modified (12-14 players), Junior Varsity (eight to nine players) and Varsity (eight to nine players) all in the same season. As the head coach, along with my assistants (Coach Torie, Coach Najur and Coach Savannah), the hard work in the offseason is paying off. Building a sense of family which extends to current, former and recently graduated players makes our team mantra: “LADY LEOPARDS FOR LIFE (LL4L)” that much more meaningful. It would be foolish to set any wins and losses goals, especially coming off a 0-10 season last year. We can only promise that every game our Leopards play: “WE WILL SHAKE THE ROOM!””
First game: December 1st vs. Livonia at 7:15 p.m.
GREECE OLYMPIA SPARTANS (Class B1)
Last season record and finish: 3-8, lost in Class B1 sectional quarterfinals to Batavia
Coach: Jeffrey Jung (Third season, 16-18 career record)
Top returners: Shania Estrich So. G; Tehilyah Murray Sr. F
Top newcomers: Kyleigh Barthe 8th G. F; Madelyn Kielkowicz 7th G. G
Outlook: “The team is very young with five of 11 roster spots consisting of seventh through 10th graders. We will have a lot to build on this season. The young players will need to step up early and often.”
First game: December 10th vs. Eastridge at 7:15 p.m.
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 8-4, lost in Class A sectional quarterfinals to Brockport
Coach: Steve Willoughby (33rd season, 505-184 career record)
Top returners: Brooklyn Bellavia Sr. C/F; Whitley Easton Sr. SG; Emma Hoffman Sr. G; Teagan Kamm Sr. C (15 PPG, 12 RPG last season); Clare Ruff Jr. PG (5 PPG, 3 SPG last season)
Top newcomers: Mollie Finn So. G; Grace Hoffman Jr. F; Samantha Ostrovski Jr. G
Outlook: “We should compete for the Monroe County Division IV title.”
First game: December 6th vs. Dansville at 7:15 p.m.
PITTSFORD SUTHERLAND KNIGHTS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 5-7, did not qualify for sectionals
Coach: Daniel Judd (22nd season, 258-179 career record)
Top returners: Ellie Bergin Jr. G (18.5 PPG last season); Leora Cook So. G (9.2 PPG last season)
Outlook: “We are still a young team with only one senior, but we have a strong junior class and should be more competitive this year. We have a good inside-outside balance. The continued development of our young players will be the key to our success.”
First game: December 2nd vs. Irondequoit at 7:15 p.m.
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