2019 GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW

A young, but talented Catskill girls basketball team hopes a strong finish to last season is an indication of things to come.

The Cats feature one of the top players in the Patroon Conference in freshman Janay Brantley, who already has played two full years at the varsity level.

Brantley was named a first-team Patroon Conference All-Star as an eighth-grader and Cats’ coach Chris Quinn feels her best is yet to come.

Hudson finished second in the Patroon standings to Maple Hill a year ago and will be a strong contender again this year with the return of league Most Valuable Player Deja Beauford, who averaged 20 points per game for the Bluehawks.

In the Colonial Council, Ichabod Crane hopes to make some noise with the return of senior Madie Graham, who has already signed a letter of intent to attend Adelphi University next year.

Germantown could be the cream of the crop in the Central Hudson Valley League, thanks to the return of leading scorer and rebounder Riley Gibbons.

Clippers’ coach Christina Sharpe welcomes back six other players from a team that finished 12-9 a year ago.

Coach: Chris Quinn

Returnees: Janay Brantley (freshman), Aaliyah Shook (freshman), Kiana Salerno (sophomore), Hannah Konsul (sophomore), Aizlyn O’Connell (senior).

Newcomers: Sara Liepman (junior), Alanna Holt (junior), Amaia Sisto (junior).

Coach’s comments: I’m excited about this group because they’re all scrappy and finally the culture is changing where they all love to play basketball. My key contributors will all be freshman or sophomores with the upper classmen being more of role players. Janay will again be our leader and we’ll lean on her to do it all ... even in the post a little. Aaliyah Shook has worked tirelessly on her game since last season and has improved by leaps and bounds. Hannah Konsul is steadily improving and once she realizes she can be a dominant player she’s going to be tough to stop from three point line in. Aizlyn O’Connell is our vocal leader and is tough as nails and will be able to get us those tough physical baskets down low. Kiana Salierno is our wild card ... once she gets the confidence she can be a difference maker for us ... Sara Liepman is a hard nosed defender who can also score the ball...Holt and Sisto will be role players that will be relied on to give us valuable minutes ... we’re a much better ball handling team with the emergence of Aaliyah and Sara, but make no mistake we know where our bread is buttered with Janay ... Even though we’re technically still very young we will not use that as an excuse ... I expect us to be very competitive in the Patroon this year.

Coach: John Roloson

Last year: 13-8

Returnees: Naveah Daigle-Vellon (senior), Paige Lee-Eaton (senior), Hailey Cascioli (junior), Hannah Taylor (junior), Abby Taylor (sophomore).

Newcomers: Hannah Kelly (junior), Erin Madsen (sophomore), Allyson Engel (sophomore), Gabby Morse (sophomore).

Coach’s comments: This year’s team is a good mix of experienced and athletic players. Versatility should also be a key component for this team. We expect to be competitive with every team on our schedule.

Coach: Steve Gipprich

Last year: 13-8

Returnees: Lauren Rauf (junior), Natalie Krasney (senior), Meghan Misuraca (senior).

Newcomers: Kailyn Silk (senior), Kaitlin Naze (junior), Molly SanEmeterio (junior), Emily Duncan (junior), Skylar Petit (junior), Josie O’Hare (sophomore), Emma Haller (sophomore).

Coach’s comments: Greenville girls varsity basketball is looking to be a competitive young team this year. We have three returning players with Natalie Krasney and Meghan Misuraca as the returning captains. Greenville will look to play fast and be physical down low. With a young group of girls coming up from JV, our goal is to continue to be near the top of the league. We are excited to see two new players join the Spartan program this year in Kaitlin Naze and Kaitlyn Silk.

Coach: Tom Davis

Last year: N/A

Returnees: Kirsten Shumsky (5-3, senior), Marleah Perry (5-3, senior), Julianna Carrasquillo (5-3, senior), Emily Mottoshiski (5-9, junior).

Newcomers: Sam Klima (5-2, senior), Macayla Sparacino (5-1, junior), Madison Davis (5-6, junior), Marissa Kernan (5-8, junior), Lola Hughes (5-7, sophomore), Sydney Cooper (5-8, sophomore), Jennie Beck (5-6).

Coach’s comments: We are a relatively young team with some new players. We will play hard every night and will show improvement throughout the season.

Coach: Adam Vooris

Last year: 10-8

Returnees: Madie Graham (5-10, senior), Abby Dolge (5-4, sophomore).

Newcomers: Haley Ames (5-3, sophomore), Miyah Richards (5-8, sophomore), Clare Knapp (5-7, sophomore), Ashley Ames (5-4, freshman), Delaney More (5-9, freshman), Malati Culver (5-9, freshman).

Coach’s comments: Madie is our only returner from last year’s team. She is our only Senior and is going to be leading a young group on the court. Going into her Senior year she has already made her mark as one of the most prolific shooters in our school’s history. Just recently Madie signed her letter of intent to play Division II Adelphi University next year. Abby Dolge, the electric guard, got her first taste of varsity action last year in our final sectional game. She is coming into this season ready to run our offense. We are very young. Last year we finished 9-7 in the league, won a first round sectional game and then lost to Mechanicville. It is a completely new look for us this year. I am excited to see what this group can do, they have a great knowledge of the game and are playing very well together.

Coach: Christina Pudney

Last year: 12-9

Returnees: Jennifer Ljutich (5-6, senior), Kierlan Denninger (5-6, senior), Kaycee Hayes (5-1, junior), Victoria Decker (5-8, junior), Kaitlyn Stagno (5-0, junior), Megan Dunn (5-7, junior), Riley Gibbons (5-8, junior).

Newcomers: Anna Ruiz Garcia (5-5, senior), Brianna Mergenthaler (5-4, junior), Ryane Anderson (5-7, sophomore), Jordan Wyant (5-3, sophomore), Kathryn Bathrick (5-8, sophomore).

Coach’s comments: This team has good depth, size, speed and plays good defense. We started eight different players at various times last year, including all seven returning. Returning Sr. Kierlan Denninger is our defensive stalwart, having been assigned to play many a top scorer. I will look to her and fellow senior Jennifer Ljutich to lead a good defensive team. Junior Riley Gibbons has been the leading scorer and rebounder for the last two years and I will look to her to continue to establish her presence. Juniors Megan Dunn and Kaycee Hayes continue to be a threat from the 3 point line. They, along with others who have either gained confidence or moved up this year should allow us to stretch the defense. There are many key role players which give us depth and help solidify this team. With a large core of returning players, along with some talented girls that have moved up, we are looking to make a deep run in sectionals. We are playing some solid competition to challenge us to play to the next level.