Blue Devil Girls’ Basketball Takes Aim at Playoffs

The Huntington varsity girls’ basketball team opens the season on Thursday at home when the Blue Devils host Harborfields in a non-league game. Varsity tips off at 5 p.m. with the JV to follow at 6:45 p.m.

Huntington is coming off a 10-10 season last winter. A new coaching staff is in place. Perry Marinelli is the varsity head coach with Alyssa Adomaites serving as varsity assistant. Megan Marinelli is a volunteer assistant. Leah Morawski is the JV head coach.

“Huntington will be an athletic and strong defensive team that will be looking to run,” Perry Marinelli said. “We hope to make a run into the playoffs.”

The Blue Devils are led by captains Lauren Donaghy, Sabrina Boyle, Jenna Italiano and Ava McDonald along with Madyn Kalb, Jolie Weinschreider and Grace Gordon.

Donaghy is coming off a junior season that saw her average 15 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. Boyle is a talented senior who transferred to Huntington late last season from Our Lady of Mercy Academy. Italiano is a sparkplug on both ends of the course. She averaged two points, five rebounds and a block last year as a junior. McDonald averaged 11 points, five rebounds and five assists as a freshman.

Kalb, Weinschreider and Gordon can all score, rebound, pass, block and steal the ball. Donaghy is sifting through college basketball possibilities while four other players are lacrosse commits with Boyle headed to Binghamton, Italiano destined for Molloy, Weinschreider committed to Rutgers and Gordon committed to Lafayette.

Huntington’s roster also includes Ruby Baliber, Sophie Carlson, Leighton Evans, Justina Hlenski, Ruby Hoffman, Elliot Manu, Leila O’Toole and Kaylee Smalling. Everyone is expected to contribute this season.