Westport girls basketball — high hopes again

Despite being age and height challenged, Wildcats aim for state tournament

Photos and story by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 12/4/18

The young Wildcat girls basketball team isn’t getting any older this year.

The team is bringing back just three starters, sophomore forward Jess Carney and eighth grade guards Leah Sylvain and …

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Westport girls basketball — high hopes again

Despite being age and height challenged, Wildcats aim for state tournament

Posted

The young Wildcat girls basketball team isn’t getting any older this year.

The team is bringing back just three starters, sophomore forward Jess Carney and eighth grade guards Leah Sylvain and Dakota Azevedo.

The Wildcats will add senior forward Erin Carney, freshman forward Lily Pichette and eighth grade guards Sara Edwards and Abby Zuber to the trio.

“We are very young again,” said Head Coach Michael Ponte as he looked on during a joint practice with Bourne at the high school on Monday night.

“But the team is talented and hardworking. They have great attitudes. Our goal right now is to try and get better every day.”

The team lost freshman starting point guard Laila Silver to St. George’s School. The Wildcats also lost Laura Mendel to Tabor and other players to Bishop Stang and Dartmouth.

“It happens all the time,” said coach Ponte. “We have girls that go other places, but I’m happy with the girls that we coach. They show up to practice every single day with a smile on their face. They listen. They’re coachable. I love them.”

The Wildcats went to the state tournament last year with a 13-7 record. They expect a repeat this season despite heavy competition in their division.

“If we want to be competitive in our league, we are going to have measure ourselves against West Bridgewater,” said coach Ponte. “They are the best team in our league every year. Steve Barrett is the best coach in the league. He’ll have them ready to go.”

Coach Ponte had accolades for Diman and coach Shane Doyle as well.

“Diman is always good and they have a great senior point guard. We are going to have our work cut out for us this year,” coach Ponte said.

The Wildcats are not only young, but small as well. Sophomore team captain Jess Carney plays guard in an offseason program, but is the tallest player on the team at 5 foot 7 inches. The plan is for Carney to play on the post and at center.

“Coming here and being the tallest player on the team isn’t something that I’m used,” said Carney.

During a break in practice, Carney said that she feels her teammates have what it takes to get back to the tournament.

“We are small and young. Kind of the usual trend for Westport,” Carney said. “But we are fast. And we are going to play strong defense. We will pressure and just grab the ball and go.”

 

The starters

Lily Pichette, a freshman is slated to play forward with Carney.

“Lily is very fast,” said Carney. “She has long arms and can block players that are taller than her. She is tough and works hard on every single play.”

“Eighth grade guard Dakota Azevedo plays scrappy defense,” said Carney. “She is down low at all times. She will take the ball from people smaller than her, taller than her and she’ll just go.”

“When she drives to the hoop, she’ll take the contact with out even thinking about it,” said Carney.

Eighth grade guard Sara Edwards is a great shooter according to Carney.

“She can hit a contested shot anywhere on the three-point line,” Carney said.

Eighth grade guard Leah Sylvain can handle to ball under pressure and shoot well, said Carney.

The team captain can’t wait for the season to start.

“I’m psyched for this season,” Carney said. “I’m not sure how it’s going to go, but I’m hopeful.”

The Wildcats start their season at Fairhaven on Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.