Section V Girls’ Basketball tips off the 2021-22 season on November 26th. Here are the season previews for Brighton, Churchville-Chili, Gates-Chili, Irondequoit, Pittsford Mendon and Webster Thomas:
BRIGHTON BRUINS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 3-7, did not qualify for sectionals
Coach: Max Krieger (11th season overall, First season at Brighton)
Top returners: Kiara Anglin Sr. F/G (17 PPG, 6 RPG, 3 SPG in career, 801 career points scored, 285 points away from breaking the program’s all-time record held by current assistant coach Brooke Wolff); Kaiya Larkins Jr. F/G (5 PPG, 4 RPG, 1 SPG last season); Sadie Scott So. F/G (8 PPG, 6 RPG last season)
Top newcomers: Maeve Diefendorf So. F/G; Nora Smith Jr. G
Outlook: “This year’s team is athletic and young. Led by lone senior Kiara Anglin, the Bruins look to use their speed and length to create havoc on defense. Offensively, this team has many weapons in addition to Anglin and Sadie Scott. This team is filled with multi-sport athletes who can transfer many skills from the field to the court. The Bruins have multiple players return looking to take bigger roles in Katie Hardie, Lucy Lederman, Olivia Rush and Avery Hopkin. This team also has basketball in their blood with Melinda Lazenby and Mary Grace Tisa both having their brothers play for the Boys’ Varsity team.”
First game: December 3rd vs. Spencerport at Brockport Middle School at 5:45 p.m.
VIEW MORE SCOTT CORDARO PHOTOS HERE.
CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SAINTS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 6-5, lost in Class A sectional quarterfinals to Pittsford Mendon
Coach: Todd Esposito (Seventh season)
Top returners: Sydney Postell Jr. G/F (11 PPG, 5 RPG last season); Esabella Smith Sr. F (Led team with 6 RPG last season)
Top newcomers: Layla Jackson So. F; Haley Leonard So. F
Outlook: “We graduated a bunch of seniors who played a lot of minutes. We will be without Sydney Postell for probably the entire month of December with a pretty bad ankle injury. Nothing is going to be easy, but it’s clear this year’s team will not be afraid of the challenge. I am impressed with our team so far. They have a lot of drive and determination. This will help them have a successful season.”
First game: December 7th at Pittsford Mendon at 7:15 p.m.
GATES-CHILI SPARTANS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 10-4, lost in Class AA sectional semifinals to Penfield
Coach: Rachel Leonard (13th season overall, Fifth Varsity season)
Top returners: Paris Anthony Sr. PG (16 PPG last season, averaged 50-plus total assists and 25-plus three-pointers made the past two season); Terah Echols Sr. F/G (15.1 PPG, currently injured).
Outlook: “We have many new and younger members of the Varsity this year that we are excited about.”
First game: December 3rd vs. School Of The Arts at School No. 33 at 6:15 p.m.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 6-5, lost in Class A sectional quarterfinals to Canandaigua
Coach: Scott Smith (28th season)
Top returners: Maeve Brennan Jr. F/G (3 PPG, 4 RPG, 2 BPG last season); Emma McGuigan Jr. G (2 PPG, 1 APG, 1 SPG last season); A’miyah Nunn Sr. G (11 PPG, 7 RPG, 3 APG, All-County First Team last season); Leilah Rosario Sr. G (4 PPG, 3 RPG last season); Daisy Smith Sr. F (3 PPG, 3 RPG last season); Hannah Smith Sr. F/G (4 PPG, 5 RPG last season)
Top newcomers: Ella Brennan So. F/G; Ava Castronova Fr. G; Bella Quintero Fr. F; Aubrey Smith Fr. G
Outlook: “We have a good mix of veteran and younger players that work hard and enjoy playing together. If we do what we are capable of, we will be competitive on most nights.”
First game: November 30th vs. Greece Athena at 7:45 p.m.
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 15-0, won Class A sectional title over Brockport
Coach: Todd Julien (23rd season, 407-65 career record)
Top returners: Anaya Coleman Sr. G (14 PPG last season, Monmouth University commit); Lily Kennedy Sr. G (12 PPG last season); Bridget Miller Sr. F; Danielle Strauf Sr. G (12 PPG)
Outlook: “We lost Lexi Green to graduation. The team needs to collectively solve for that loss. We’re playing a very aggressive out-of-town schedule, including Hamburg, Shenendehowa, Averill Park, Cicero-North Syracuse and Monroe County Division I crossovers. We should be competitive in class A with Webster Schroeder and Canandaigua being the top teams in A.”
First game: December 7th vs. Churchville-Chili at 7:15 p.m.
VIEW MORE SUE KANE PHOTOS HERE.
WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (Class A)
Last season record and finish: 3-8, did not qualify for sectionals
Coach: Jason Charno (Ninth season, 91-68 career record)
Top returners: Teagan Baylor Jr. F/G (3 PPG, 8 RPG last season); Bella Fanale Fr. G (5 PPG, 7 RPG last season); Mady Kelly Jr. G (14 PPG last season); Mary Marrapese Sr. G (6 PPG, 4 APG last season)
Top newcomers: Kristina Baller Fr. G/F; Ruby Marrapese Fr. G
Outlook: “Webster Thomas returns four starters from last year’s team, including All-County Second Team selection Mady Kelly.”
First game: December 6th at Wayne at 7:30 p.m.
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