There’s a lot to like with the local high school girls basketball programs this winter. Talking to Franklin County coaches, there’s plenty of talent on respective rosters, though for a lot of schools, that talent is also quite youthful.
How quickly some of that talent develops will undoubtedly be the key to many teams’ seasons, as the 2021-22 campaign officially kicked off for some programs Thursday and Friday, and the rest are slated to begin regular season play next week.
For example, the Pioneer girls team graduated just two seniors from last year’s team but 16 of the 25 players in the program between JV and varsity are seventh and eighth graders.
“It’s a very young crew but there’s a lot of skill there,” Pioneer coach Mike Churchill said. “I think we’re going to see a lot of improvement over the course of the year.”
While youth is an obvious theme, teams enter their second season with the unenviable task of wearing masks during game play. The MIAA announced that all indoor winter athletes, coaches and spectators would be required to wear masks until at least Jan. 15, when the decision will be revisited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It obviously changes things a little bit,” offered Franklin Tech coach Joe Gamache. “A lot of the girls we have in the program played in some capacity last year so they have experience playing with masks. While it’s not enjoyable, we’ll do whatever we have to do in order to play basketball.”
Here are a few of the storylines to watch this season:
Winter sports will see new leagues across the board this season, as a two-year realignment cycle begins throughout the PVIAC.
Local schools are slotted into two leagues – the Franklin County League North and South. The FCL West has no Recorder area teams this winter.
In the North, Greenfield, Frontier and Mahar are joined by Palmer, Ware, Lenox and Hopkins Academy to make up a seven-team league, while the South features Pioneer, Turners Falls, Athol, Mohawk Trail and Franklin Tech, along with Putnam and Smith Academy.
“Certainly I think we can contend. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t,” offered Gamache.
His Eagles have moved out of the Tri-County League for the first time, but after battling and performing well against Franklin County schools during the COVID-shortened season last winter (7-3 record), he has confidence they can make some noise punching up at a higher weight class.
“Honestly it’s a step up from the Tri-County League,” Gamache said. “I think there were plenty of years where Franklin Tech needed to be in the Tri-County League to be competitive, but the girls have shown we can compete with the teams that are now in our league.”
Two new varsity coaches enter the mix, as Mahar’s Steven Bonk moves up from the middle school program to take over for Larry Fisher, who stepped away after 16 years. Mohawk Trail’s Kate Grover takes over in Buckland.
Numbers are short for the Senators, as Bonk said there are just 13 players between the JV and varsity programs.
“We’re trying to develop depth within our program and hopefully as the season progresses, become a little more comfortable with our system,” he said. “We’re changing quite a bit.”
The good news is Bonk has experience coaching many of the players in the program after six years in charge of the middle school squad. Seniors Natalie Belloli and Taylor Soucie are the lone members of their class in Orange this winter, while the junior class consists of Saylor Kegans, Astha Bernard, Kendrah Doane, Caraline White and Sophia Woods.
“I’m really excited to take this position,” he offered. “A lot of the girls have already played for me. They’re working hard, doing everything they can, and I think every time we’re on the court we’re learning and getting stronger.”
As for Grover and the Warriors, seniors Stella Clark and Mya Lesieur will help guide a roster that should be well-balanced and competitive in the FCL South. The pair have been contributors for several years.
Like the fall season, girls basketball teams will get their first crack at competing in the statewide tournament this winter. Mahar and Frontier are slotted as Division 4 schools, while the rest of the area teams will participate in Division 5.
Power rankings will determine the top 32 teams in each of the five divisions, while teams with .500 records or better will also automatically qualify even if they fall outside the top 32.
“I really haven’t talked too much about it with the kids,” Greenfield coach John Hickey said. “We’re just basically in a wait and see what happens because this is the first year with it. It’s going to be different though.”
Speaking of the Green Wave, Hickey’s roster will look considerably different this winter after the squad ran the table during the COVID-shortened season a year ago.
The biggest departure comes in the form of graduated star Katie Haselton, who finished her hoop career with 1,438 points. That put her No. 3 on the all-time GHS list and No. 2 in girls scoring. Current Greenfield boys coach Angelo Thomas sits atop the list with 1,684 points, while Raegan Hickey is the girls scoring leader with 1,522 points.
Haselton is currently a freshman guard on the Framingham State women’s basketball team.
“She did more than just score points, she made everyone around her better, took pressure off people, great defense, passed it well… an all-around player,” lauded Hickey. “So it’s going to be a big adjustment for us at the start of the season, not having someone we can look to when we need something.”
Without Haselton, as well as Amber Bergeron who transferred to Northfield Mount Hermon, the Wave will turn to the likes of senior Tess Rancourt and juniors Lillia Kachelmeyer and Azemina Cecunjanin to carry the load.
“They all have experience and we’re going to rely on their experience to help the younger kids along,” Hickey said.
Turners Falls should be a team to watch, particularly as its young talent is now slightly more experienced.
Second-year coach Jim Cadran had a team that impressed during the COVID-shortened season, and there’s plenty of talent back. Sophomore Taylor Greene is a name to watch, while upperclassmen Emily Young (senior), Morgan Dobias (junior), Abbi Holloway (junior) and Steph Peterson (junior) are also veterans.
Franklin Tech point guard Kendra Campbell is another star in the making, while the Eagles are also counting on a senior trio of Emilys — Eastman, Ryan and Merritt — to set the tone.
Frontier senior Kaitlyn Mackin spearheads a Redhawks side that should be a player in the FCL North. Opposing coaches have called head coach Dave Machon’s club one to watch this winter, and along with Mackin, the team boasts upperclassmen Alena Maes-Polan (senior), Kyle Laford (junior), Cadince Wells-Robinson (junior), Kali Berthiaume (junior) and Abigail Howard (junior).
Athol’s senior class of Reily Polana (guard), Christa Cucchi (guard), Lindsey LeBlanc (guard) and Sam Kenniff (forward) will look to guide a Bears squad hungry to compete in the FCL South. Junior Emma Bacigalupo is no stranger to the limelight, and she’s been a steady scorer and contributor for several years on the varsity program.
Pioneer junior co-captains Caroline Ring (forward) and Sofia Walker (guard) look to lead Churchill’s team which has no seniors on the roster. Classmates Whitney Dunklee (center) and Laura Kahler (guard) also provide an upperclass presence for an overall youthful roster.