Every high school hoops program goes through a rebuilding year and after losing four senior starters and seven of ten varsity players from last season, it’s that time for the Westport basketball team. Last season the Wildcats rolled over many of their league opponents, fell to Mount Greylock 55-52 in the Division 5 Sweet Sixteen and finished the season with a record of 13-7, 6-2 in the MAC.

“It’s going to be an adjustment,” said head coach Scot Boudria. “Most of the teams we play will be licking their chops to get a little revenge.” 

The lone starter back from last season is his son, Owen, a tall, sinewy, athletic junior that can drain threes, drive to the hoop and take over games when hot.

“His role will be different this season,” said Coach Boudria. “Last season he could defer to Hunter, Ben, Cam and Max. Now he’s going to have to take on a little more on his shoulders. He’ll have to be the one to break the press, he’ll have to be the main scorer and he’ll have to bang down low. But you play five. The other four are going to have to contribute too.”

Boudria, the Wildcats’ leading scorer last season, downplayed his role on the team. “I look at it as, let’s do whatever it takes to get a win,” he said. Though he thinks the Wildcats can bounce back from losing a slew of starters. 

“I think that we are going to surprise a lot of people,” he said. “Right now we are all hurt. But we are looking solid, when we are all healthy.”

Coach Boudria will have to piece together bench players and junior varsity players to form this year’s squad. Also back are senior Chris Duarte and junior soccer star, Will Quinlan, who helped to win the school’s first championship with the soccer team this fall.

Up from junior varsity are seniors, Nick Stanton, Machairas Fotis, Luke Coelho and Anthony Raposa. Also coming from JV are Juniors, Max Gallant, Bryson Contreras and Cole Boudria, a freshman. 

“They are going to have to fill roles at a high speed level,” said Coach Boudria. “They are going to be playing varsity and the difference between JV and varsity is size and speed. Players like Chris, Anthony, Will and the others are going to have to step up.”

Coach Boudria will look to get the team to play Wildcats’ basketball. Press, play physical and play hard. 

“We are going to work hard like we always do,” said Coach Boudria. “We’ll be scrappy like we always are and we are going to try to make good intelligent plays. They got to be ready now and it’s my job as the coach to get them ready.”

Girls look to make another playoff run in Division 5

The girls basketball team is in great position to make another run at the Division 5 title. Last year’s Wildcats fell to Sutton 46-35 in the Elite 8 and finished the season with a record of 16-4. The team lost just one senior from last year’s squad, six year starter, Leah Sylvain, who was the team’s leading scorer and heart and soul of the team. 

Still the Wildcats are bringing back starters, Korynne Holden, Sarah Perry, Jenna Egbe and Megan Molloy as well as Julia George, Tess Sylvia, and freshmen Skylar Rezendes and Kylie Hazel and should make a deep playoff run. 

“We are going to continue to work on what has always worked for us,” said head coach Jen Gargiulo. “Our defense intensity. That rotation looking to have opponents play at a pace that they are uncomfortable with and we want to build on the new personnel that we have.”

Holden, a senior guard, is athletic, can shoot threes and drive to the hoop. She is a fierce defender and will be at the top of the defense during the press. Perry, a senior forward, is coming back from a knee injury that she suffered in the loss to Sutton. She is wearing a heavy brace, but is playing with the same voraciousness that she did last season. She is strong rebounder and can score from the paint. Molloy, a senior forward, is also ferocious on the boards. But it will be the play of the tall, lengthy Egbe, a sophomore center, that will determine how far the Wildcats can go. She has been working hard all off season according to Coach Gargiulo and there has been a big improvement in her play. 

“She looks great,” said Coach Gargiulo. “She played summer league and works hard every practice. I have to commend her for the hard work that she puts it.” 

George, a speedy, athletic guard played the point and brought up the ball in their first scrimmage game. Carver coach Michael Ponte tested her in the second quarter and the new starter coughed up the ball a few times, but she adjusted nicely in the second half. She hit the Wildcats’ first three pointer to give Westport a lead to end the first half. 

“Julia really had a transforming season last year,” said Coach Gargiulo. “She has really stepped up.”

Freshmen, Rezendes, a forward and Hazel, a guard, have been in the program since seventh grade. They will provide the Wildcats with depth and be in the mix at there positions this season. 

“They bring a new look for us,” said Coach Gargiulo. “Skylar is confident underneath. She boxes out and rebounds well. Kylie is a strong ball handler and outside shooter. It’s a big jump from JV to varsity. They will have to learn to play at a different pace.” 

Coach Gargiulo has veteran leadership in her senior captains Holden, Perry and Molloy, as they compete for a deep playoff run. 

“I’m very lucky, I have a team that is very coachable. They push each other to play better and I think it will all translate into a positive season.”