The Huntington High School varsity girls’ basketball team is ready to challenge for league and county titles this winter.
The Blue Devils will return a veteran lineup to the court. Coached by Mike Kaplan and Marissa Bergmann, the team topped visiting Harborfields in the season opener, a non-league contest, 63-19.
Makaylah Frazier expects to have a career year. (Darin Reed photo.)
The roster features 15 players, including eighth graders Ruby Baliber and Jolie Weinschreider; freshman Lauren Donaghy; sophomores Kayleigh Bender and Reese Rinaldi; juniors Abby Baade, Gianna Forte and Asyria Rios; and seniors Katie Browne, Teddi Carnesi, Makaylah Frazier, Emily Plachta, Junie Nosile, Regan Sansiviero and Shaneek Shand.
The players and coaches all have high hopes for success. “I think it’s looking really good,” Plachta said. “This should be a very exciting season.”
Huntington hosts Hauppauge in a non-league game on Tuesday and then opens the league schedule at Smithtown West on Friday.
“This team is looking really good,” Forte said. “Everyone is working really hard at practice and everyone seems to have a common goal of going all the way. I am excited to get into league play.”
Carnesi, Plachta, Frazier and Browne are the team captains. “Basketball looks awesome this year,” Carnesi said. “We have a program built on teamwork, heart and intensity that will get us through the challenges we face this season. We have so many hardworking and talented girls on our roster. It is going to be an exciting season. “
This year’s junior varsity team is coached by Huntington 2016 alum Katie Reilly, who captured All-County honors while playing for the Blue Devils.
The JV roster includes freshmen Sophie Carlson, Zaida Correal, Ava Davis, Kaylee Smalling, Anne Tyrrell and Jenna Italiano; and sophomores Yuliana Hernandez Perla, Jessica Maixner, Neurdia Osias, Marley Joseph and Aylana Powell; and juniors Theresa Rivera and Gabriela Rodriquez Moreira.