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TO ADVERTISE CALL 516-569-4000 HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW December 22, 2022 — 51
2022-23 HERALD High School Basketball Preview
V.S. SOUTH
Falcons hope to fly again
TBy BRIAN KACHARABA “There’s only one way to go time after spending her previous Laura Cardona
he results didn’t meet but up,” head coach Mike O’Brien years on a volleyball sideline. She
the expectations for the said. “I think there’s actually welcomes the challenge of helping a Schedule
Valley Stream South boys’ potential. It’s kind of like a new team that won just once last winter.
basketball team last season after team.” MATT GUILFOBYOLEYS
recording just one conference “At first, I was December
victory and two wins overall. But Brady Delvalle surprised as a a little hesitant
things could take a turn for the freshman last year by averaging just because 16 @ North Shore 7:00 p.m.
better this winter thanks to a rising just under 11 points as a point it’s out of my 20 Lawrence 5:00 p.m.
young star and more height added guard. This season, O’Brien is hop- typical wheel-
to the lineup. ing to eventually place him at the house, but January
two-guard position to take more given my own
The Falcons were well advantage of his already high background, I 4 Clarke 5:00 p.m.
prepared for the 2022-23 season basketball IQ. was like, ‘You know 7 @ Academy Charter 12:00 p.m.
after competing in numerous sum- what, let’s see what I can do with 10 @ Island Trees 7:00 p.m.
mer tournaments and scheduling “He’s a two, but he’s still these girls.’” she said. 13 Friends Academy 5:00 p.m.
double-digit workouts and split the our best option at the one,” he 21 North Shore 12:00 p.m.
first two games of the campaign explained. “But for us to have The roster is senior-heavy, but 27 @ Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
but could only muster a win at success, I see him as our leading also features sophomores that could
Mineola in the penultimate game scorer. I’m hoping he can score create a foundation for the future. February
the rest of the way. 15-plus a game.” Senior point guard Laura Cardona is
the top returning scorer and Serpico 1 @ Clarke 7:00 p.m.
Brady Delvalle Andy Dorant is the shooting is hoping she could be the 4 Academy Charter 12:00 p.m.
52 — December 22, 2022 guard and, despite his 6-foot-5 court general as well. 7 Island Trees 5:00 p.m.
10 @ Friends Academy 7:00 p.m.
frame, O’Brien is expected to slot “I want Laura to step
fellow senior Nicholas Parisi up and take control of the GIRLS
as a third guard. But Pa- court and lead her team,”
risi’s basketball awareness Serpico said. “I want her to really December
makes him effective at any direct her players where they need
position. to be.” 15 North Shore 5:00 p.m.
Juniors Dillon Wallace 20 @ Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
(6-4) and Lonnie Creech Amani Coyall and Gabriella
(6-2) will make their varsity Williams could be the team’s best January
debuts and complete outside shooters, with fellow seniors
the starting five. Senior Christina Barkolas and LaMaya 4 @ Clarke 7:00 p.m.
Robert Jones (6-5) Mays handling rebounding and put- 10 Island Trees 5:00 p.m.
brings more height off back duties. Senior Kellie McMillan 13 @ Friends Academy 7:00 p.m.
the bench and senior provides depth at point guard and 20 @ North Shore 5:15 p.m.
Gavin Benevides is the senior Diarra Danville is an aggres- 27 Lawrence 5:00 p.m.
team’s “best pure shooter”, sive defender off the bench.
February
according to O’Brien. As for the sophomores, Lisa
The team moved down to Jean-Antoine could occasion- 1 Clarke 5:00 p.m.
ally start at guard,Ysavel Clesca 7 @ Island Trees 7:00 p.m.
Conference A5 this year, but provides defense and will fight for a 10 Friends Academy 5:00 p.m.
O’Brien believes the schedule loose ball, and Jayla McLean brings
didn’t get much easier. strong rebounding and defense.
“Every team except for Island Serpico hopes for more wins
Trees made the playoffs last but, more importantly, would like
year,” he said of the new the girls to gain confidence as the
conference. “There’s definitely season progresses.
no gimmies.”
NEW COACH TO GUIDE VSS “Last year, they were 1-15
[and] I would like to at least go
The athletic department made a couple better than that,” she
an outside-the-box hire in hopes said. “If we have a strong team
of improving the girls’ program this chemistry, we may not win every
season. single game, but I want the girls to
feel good coming off that court.”
Dominique Serpico, a Spanish
teacher in the district, will be Photos by Paul Grassini
coaching basketball for the first HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW
1191516
TO ADVERTISE CALL 516-569-4000 HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW December 22, 2022 — 53
2022-23 HERALD High School Basketball Preview
WANTAGH
Warriors building
off last season
TBy ANDREW COEN of the Class A playoffs before lacrosse at Northwestern Ava Kornbluth
he Wantagh boys’ basketball falling 50-44. “We saw we could in the spring.
team got a taste of the compete and now we have to Schedule
postseason last winter and build off of that confidence.” While this leaves a ton
will look to take another step this of production to replace, longtime MDATeT cGeUmILFbOBYeLOrEYS
winter with an experienced squad. Wantagh brings back much head coach Stan Bujacich will have
senior Jakai Lester, who averaged plenty of talent and depth on the 13 @ Lynbrook 7:00 p.m.
The Warriors return four 11.2 points per game last year floor fueled for a deep postseason 16 V.S. North 7:00 p.m.
starters from a team that earned after transferring from St. Dominic. run after falling to Hewlett 62-61 20 @ Floral Park 5:00 p.m.
the final playoff spot in Conference Charlie DeStefano, Ryan Daly and in the round of 16 of the Class A
A-5. While Wantagh finished 3-7 Danny Fisenne also have plenty of playoffs last February. January
in the league, the team dropped experience under their belt after
a number of close contests and starting last season. “I think everybody remembers 4 Mineola 6:45 p.m.
clinched a fourth-place finish with that and is hungry to get back at 10 @ Plainedge 5:00 p.m.
a 44-33 win at Lawrence. Seniors Jake Borgese and Joe it,” said Bujacich of the playoff 13 Bethpage 7:00 p.m.
Martin became a big part of the loss in which Hewlett rallied from 18 Lynbrook 7:00 p.m.
“Our record didn’t show how Warriors’ rotation toward the end 10 down entering the fourth 21 @ V.S. North 12:00 p.m.
well we played last year as we of last season and will see plenty quarter. “I like the versatility of our 27 Floral Park 7:00 p.m.
were in every game,” said second- of minutes for their final high rotation, but the main thing is
year head coach Matt Simeone, school baseball campaign. Senior they’ve experienced a whole February
whose team gave 11th-seeded Nick Cupelli and junior Jack Tate, season last year.”
Hewlett a scare in the first round who Simeone knows well as an 1 @ Mineola 6:45 p.m.
assistant coach on the Want- The four returning 7 Plainedge 5:00 p.m.
Jakai Lester agh football program, are also starters include Katherine 10 @ Bethpage 7:00 p.m.
54 — December 22, 2022 expected to be big contributors. Killian, Skylar Mondelli, Juliana
Cerasi and Brighid Smith. Senior GIRLS
Wantagh will compete in guard Ava Kornbluth is also back
Conference V this season with after missing most of last season December
Bethpage, Valley Stream North, following an ACL injury in the
Floral Park, Plainedge, Lynbrook second game and brings veteran 13 Lynbrook 5:00 p.m.
and Mineola. Simeone said the leadership as a four-year varsity 15 @ V.S. North 5:00 p.m.
competition will be tough, but he player. 20 Floral Park 5:00 p.m.
hopes his roster of top athletes Junior guard Lindsey Loor January
who also have physical tough- provides more firepower to the
ness can be the difference Wantagh offense after moving 4 @ Mineola 6:15 p.m.
to Wantagh from Queens, where 10 Plainedge 5:00 p.m.
maker leading to another she was the conference’s leading 13 @ Bethpage 5:00 p.m.
playoff appearance. scorer for the Academy of Music 18 @ Lynbrook 5:00 p.m.
“These are tough and Television in Long Island City. 21 V.S. North 12:00 p.m.
kids,” said Simeone, Loor is among multiple versatile 30 @ Floral Park 5:00 p.m.
a former longtime as- players in the rotation along with
sistant basketball coach Casey Kissinger, Riley Forthofer, February
Julia Allen and Angela Pellicoro.
at Friends Academy. “We are trying Meghan Tucker, Sabrina Asadurian 1 Mineola 5:00 p.m.
to get the kids to build off of last and Emily McGeown could also 7 @ Plainedge 6:45 p.m.
year.” see valuable minutes. 10 Bethpage 5:00 p.m.
WANTAGH HUNGRY
FOR PLAYOFF RUN “We could go with a lot of Photos by Karen Millindorf
different variations of lineups out HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
The Wantagh girls return most there,” said Bujacich, who has
of last year’s team that dropped a led the Wantagh program for
first round playoff heartbreaker, but the past 30 years. “There’s lot of
still has big shoes to fill. interchangeable parts.”
The Warriors’ one graduation Conference foes include
loss was a big one in guard Madi- defending county champion
son Taylor, who averaged 14 points Plainedge, runner-up Floral Park
and seven rebounds per game and and semifinalist Lynbrook.
will be playing college women’s
HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW
2022-23 HERALD High School Basketball Preview
WEST HEMPSTEAD
Rams ready to turn page
EBy TONY BELLISSIMO so well. We have some of those The Rams split 20 games Chance Mingo
ric Rubin, the Rams’ third kids and everyone is learning an last season but lost most of their
head coach in as many entirely new system. It’s going to experienced varsity players and MATT GSUIcLFhOYeLEdule
seasons, said November was take time to get used to our drills. scoring production.
a slow start due to the football BOYS
team’s run to the county title game West Hempstead, which “We only had one bad loss December
as well as some illness that found struggled mightily last season and I thought we held serve and
its way around the roster. with just one victory and 71 had a fairly entertaining season,” 13 Malverne 5:00 p.m.
points per game allowed, has four Van Kovics said of the 2021-22 17 @ Seaford 12:00 p.m.
“We’re not ready yet but we’ll non-league games to prepare for a campaign. “It’s going to be hard 21 @ Oyster Bay
get there,” Rubin said. “It was Conference B grind that’ll include to replace what we graduated. We 7:00 p.m.
great to see the football team do Malverne, Wheatley, Carle Place have our work cut out and it’s im- January
and Seaford. portant we stay healthy because
Chris Olivier it looks like we’ll probably have 3 @ East Rockaway 7:00 p.m.
TO ADVERTISE CALL 516-569-4000 “We’re spending a lot of eight kids on varsity.” 6 Carle Place 5:00 p.m.
time on defense,” said Rubin, who 11 C.S. Harbor 5:00 p.m.
coached MacArthur for 14 sea- Senior Chance 14 Wheatley 12:00 p.m.
sons. “I told the kids the first thing Mingo will need to 20 @ Malverne 7:00 p.m.
we’re doing is cutting into that 71 be a scoring machine, 28 Seaford 12:00 p.m.
points allowed big time. We also the coach said. She
want to be up-tempo and exciting is a quality outside February
offensively.” shooter and also ca-
pable of driving the 3 East Rockaway 5:00 p.m.
Senior Chris Olivier is the lane and getting 11 @ Locust Valley 12:00 p.m.
team’s top defender and a vital to the foul line.
part of what the Rams are looking She averaged 13.5 GIRLS
to do at both ends of the floor. points per game and
“He’s tenacious on D and can also hit for 20 on multiple occasions. December
score,” Rubin said. “We’ve had a conversation and
Chance knows we need even more 13 @ Malverne 5:00 p.m.
Junior center Anthony Graffeo offense out of her,” Van Kovics 17 Seaford 12:00 p.m.
Jackson and junior point guard said of the Honorable Mention 21 Oyster Bay
Chris Young were JV starters last All-County guard/forward. “She’s 7:00 p.m.
season and primed for the same our leader.” January
role on varsity. Graffeo Jackson has
shown the ability to score in the Senior guard Gianna Cardillo 3 East Rockaway 7:00 p.m.
paint as well as from outside, while has some starting experience and 6 @ Carle Place 7:00 p.m.
Rubin said Young is as talented as can make things happen defen- 11 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m.
anyone on the roster. sively and in transition. “She’s our 14 @ Wheatley 12:00 p.m.
quickest player and will be at the 20 Malverne 5:00 p.m.
Senior Chris Altidor can play top of our presses,” Van Kovics said. 28 @ Seaford 12:00 p.m.
either guard spot, while seniors
Gardy Ilderice and Jaden Forte, and At point guard, senior Emma February
juniors Gavin Lee and Declan Cole, Shinsato can drive and dish and is
lead the effort at forward. Rubin a scrappy defender. “She’ll try to 2 @ East Rockaway 7:00 p.m.
said Lee has “elevated everyone in create as much havoc as possible,” 11 Locust Valley 12:00 p.m.
practice.” Van Kovics noted.
Photos by Sue Grieco
Junior guard Joe Thomas is a Senior center Aniya James will December 22, 2022 — 55
smart player with a quality handle, be asked to provide strong defense
and sophomore Evan Wilson could in the post and contribute some
contribute at the point. points on putbacks. Senior guard/
WEST HEMPSTEAD IN forward Ashlee Boodoo brings a
NUMBERS CRUNCH high basketball IQ and does a lot
of things well, including shoot and
After reaching the Nassau fight for rebounds, the coach said.
Class B girls semifinals last season,
West Hempstead’s depth and The five seniors will start with
endurance will be tested as head sophomores Constance Berry-
coach Chris Van Kovics works Rawley and Christina Guerrier, and
with a roster size unlikely to reach freshman Daniella Healy playing
double figures. key roles off the bench.
HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW
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56 — December 22, 2022 HIGH SCHOOL Basketball PREVIEW HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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