Westport girls basketball

Who will step up next season for Westport girls hoops

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 3/22/22

The 14-8 girls Westport girls basketball team will be left with some big shoes to fill next season. Senior forward Lily Pichette who led the Wildcats in scoring with 249 points and rebounding with …

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Westport girls basketball

Who will step up next season for Westport girls hoops

Posted

The 14-8 girls Westport girls basketball team will be left with some big shoes to fill next season. Senior forward Lily Pichette who led the Wildcats in scoring with 249 points and rebounding with 203 boards, will be sorely missed. The tall, lengthy, athletic forward also accumulated 58 steals and was named Mayflower Athletic Conference MVP and an All-Star. Pichette plans to play hoops at UMass-Dartmouth and study psychology after graduating this spring.

“Collectively the seniors have left a mark on this program, one of leadership, friendship and dedication,” said Wildcats head coach Jen Gargiulo.

The team will graduate six seniors in total. The others are Alora DaFonseca, Sarah Carney, Marissa Hazel, Abigail Silvia and Lacey Chaunt. All will be missed by their basketball teammates. Carney,also a member of the field hockey and track team, will attending UMAS-Amherst and plans to study history and become a teacher.Hazel, also a member of the student council, medical club, and national honor society, will attend Clark University in the fall to double minor in creative writing and women and gender studies. Silvia, also a varsity soccer and softball player, will attend Roger Williams University to double major in criminal justice and psychology. Chaunt, also a member of the volleyball and cheerleading squads, plans on going into aesthetician and cosmetology school in the fall. DaFonseca, also a varsity soccer and softball player, will attend Nova Southeastern University to major in speech, language and communication disorders. She plans to play soccer for the Sharks.

“I am extremely proud of both the physical and mental growth the team showed throughout the season,” Coach Gargiulo said in a statement after the season. “The girls pushed each other to improve their skills and mental toughness. It is always difficult when a season ends. No practice the next day, no film to watch. I miss seeing the team everyday at practice. This is a special group of players that I have watched grow for the last five seasons. It is amazing to watch the women they are becoming.”

 

Analysis: Seniors leave a big hole at forward

While the Wildcats back court will remain in tact next season, seniors Pichette, DaFonseca and Carney will leave a huge hole at the forward position. It will be hard to replace Pichette’s inside scoring, but the Wildcats abundance of quick scoring guards could be what the doctor ordered.Westport will receive plenty of scoring help from 1000-point scorer, junior guard Leah Sylvain, sophomore guard Korynne Holden and freshmen guards Zoe Sylvain and Julia George. Leah Sylvain has been a top scorer for the Wildcats throughout her high school career. The junior captain is a strong outside shooter and she can score fast break points by making steals and driving to the basket. She led the team in their press attack on defense and at times handled the point on offense. Sylvain scored 347 points her freshman year in 2019-2020. This season she scored 239 points and led the team with 89 steals and 67 assists. Sylvain brought down 46 rebounds for the Wildcats and was a MAC All-Star. 

Holden scored 219 points for the Wildcats this season. She dished out 38 assists and brought down 46 rebounds. Holden is lightning quick and like Sylvain, can shoot from the outside as well as drive to the basket. Holden plays aggressive defensively and made 41 steals this season. She made some big baskets in the team’s half court rotation offense this season, but she’s at her best when the Wildcats are in transition and she can use her speed to get to the hoop. Points can also be had by freshmen Zoey Sylvain and Julia George who played guard for the Wildcats this season. Both players are quick and played well on defense. Zoey Sylvain played some point guard and at times shot well last season. George, a scoring threat on the soccer team, is very speedy and agile. She played well defensively this season and is developing her skills on the court. 

 

Help at forward

Three players that will likely step into larger and different roles may be Meghan Molloy, Sarah Perry and Tess Silvia. 

Molloy, a sophomore forward, played well spelling Pichette as well has playing along side the senior this season. She is tall and has length like and is developing her low post repertoire. She will definitely help fill the void left by the seniors. 

Sarah Perry and Tess Silvia are listed as guards, but could find more playing time helping out at forward next season. Perry, a sophomore scored 38 points off the bench and brought down 73 rebounds. She has a good inside jumper and can score from the low post. Tess Silvia had limited playing time this season, though Coach Gargiulo is sure to get her more involved next season. Coach Gargiulo trusted both players to make life difficult for the opposing team’s best players on defense. 

“Both players came off the bench and gave us important minutes, said Coach Gargiulo. “Every year is a different team with a different strengths. I am hoping to see players step up into larger roles and have a significant impact on our success.”

 

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