The LoHud Girls Basketball Blog

Mount Vernon junior center/forward Lubirdia Gordon has committed to West Virginia.

Gordon becomes the fourth Mount Vernon player to commit to play basketball at West Virgina in the last five years.

She will join Kevin Jones (2008), Taylor Palmer (2010), and Jabarie Hinds (2011).

In today’s paper, our very own Josh Thomson wrote a feature on long-time Rye girls basketball coach Mary Henwood, who has retired from coaching.

After coaching for 25 years, Henwood has accumulated a record of 336-185 and has won 10 league championship titles.

Here is a link to the story
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And here is the story, pasted below:

All this time later, Rob Castagna still wonders whether he knows it all. Consider that Rye’s athletic director worked with Mary Henwood for 10 years before he found out she was a 1,000-point scorer at Hofstra.

“She’s very modest,” Castagna said. “She does a lot behind the scenes and doesn’t look for the credit. She’s done a lot for Section 1 girls. You wouldn’t know it. I still don’t know all the things she’s done.”

It is no mystery what Henwood has meant to Rye, especially its girls basketball program. After 25 years, 336 wins and 10 league championships, Henwood has retired from the post, one she first held at just 23 years of age.

“Here I am and it feels right,” she said. “It wasn’t any easier telling my girls though. I have a great group of underclassmen returning, but what I do know is it’s the right time and the right decision for me.”

Henwood felt a strong sense of closure after last week’s all-section dinner. The coaches association honored her and White Plains coach Sue Adams with lifetime achievement awards after two of the area’s most successful female coaches had announced their retirements.

Henwood was surprised by the honor, but the section’s longest-tenured coach, Irvington’s Gina Maher, felt the gesture was an appropriate one.

“She taught them that hard work pays off and the final score is less important than the path you take to get there,” Maher said in her introduction.

Beyond a 336-185 record, a run of nine straight league titles, seven sectional semifinal appearances and a trip to the Class B state final in 2004, Henwood promoted girls basketball at a time when the few voices who did amounted to a whisper. She was among those who pushed for the girls to play tournament games at the County Center and for the winners to receive gold ball trophies — just like the boys.

She still remembers her early teams playing key playoff games at neutral sites like Brewster and Edgemont, schools that had no connection to Rye or its opponents. She saw the need for change, and joined Maher and the likes of Isabel Costa, Brian Giorgis and Stan Koczka. Together they pushed for equality and eventually realized it.

“I just felt it was right,” Henwood said. “These girls are good. They should be showcased. They should be seen.”

Few females coaches across the section were more prominent in that than Henwood. In addition to her success on the basketball court, Henwood’s lacrosse teams at Rye went 173-91-10 and reached two state final fours in 17 seasons.

Henwood had been a gifted athlete at Eastchester High School, according to Koczka, her coach and mentor. She was the school’s first 1,000-point scorer and a defensive maestro, but she developed into a woman who inspired players and years later danced at their weddings.

“She was a late-bloomer in terms of figuring out who she was and what she wanted to do,” Koczka said. “When she did, she took off like a rocket.”

Henwood has landed for now. She once announced her retirement only to return just prior to the 2010-11 season. This time it is more definitive, although she doesn’t know what the future will hold this time. She has returned to coach modified lacrosse and wouldn’t rule out coaching lower-level basketball one day.

“I’ll feel my way through the winter next year, but in some capacity basketball will be in my life,” she said. “That might just be as a Garnet fan.”

The New York State Sports Writers Association has posted its All-State Girls Basketball list for the 2012 season:

Class AA

Player of the Year: Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse-3)
Coach of the Year: Eric Smith (Cicero-North Syracuse-3)

First team
01 11 G Saniya Chong (Ossining)
03 12 F Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse)
C 12 G Brianna Butler (Nazareth)
C 10 G Sierra Calhoun (Christ The King)
P 12 G Shequana Harris (Murry Bergtraum)
Second team
02 11 G Emily Weber (Shenendehowa)
C 10 G Bianca Cuevas (Nazareth)
C 11 G Rebecca Musgrove (St. Anthony’s)
C 12 C Symone Kelly (St. Anthony’s)
11 12 G Megan Doherty (Sachem East)
Third team
01 12 G Sade King (Mount Vernon)
04 12 G Tiahanna Mills (Binghamton)
11 11 F Val Oyakhilome (Lindenhurst)
C 12 G Jamie O’Hare (Moore Catholic)
C 11 G Sadie Edwards (Nazareth)
Fourth team
01 09 F Destini Walker (Ossining)
02 11 G Emia Willingham-Hurst (Albany)
03 12 G/F Brittany Paul (Cicero-North Syracuse)
05 10 F Margot Hetzke (Penfield)
08 12 G Alex Hampton (Baldwin)
Fifth team
02 11 G Sydnie Rosales (Colonie)
06 12 C Katie Healy (Lancaster)
C 12 G Katie Poppe (Holy Trinity)
C 11 F Carolyn Gallagher (Archbishop Molloy)
C 11 G Amani Tatum (Archbishop Molloy)
Sixth team
01 11 C Lubirdia Gordon (Mount Vernon)
02 12 G Mary Kate Cusack (Shenendehowa)
05 11 G Kori Bayne-Walker (Gates Chili)
09 11 G Haliann Fitzgerald (Valley Central)
P 12 F Kaitlyn Astel (MSIT)
Seventh team
01 12 G Kim Hanlon (White Plains)
06 12 F Marisa Guyton (Lockport)
08 11 G Jena Coza (MacArthur)
11 12 F Colleen Ames (Lindenhurst)
C 12 C Anastasia Williams (St. John the Baptist)
Eighth team
01 11 G Cali Balfour (John Jay East Fishkill)
02 11 G Madison Rowland (Shaker)
05 10 G Cierra Dillard (Gates Chili)
08 11 G Aliyah McDonald (Uniondale)
P 12 F Fannisha Price (South Shore)
Ninth team
02 12 C Lauren Woods (Shaker)
03 11 G/F Sarah Bowles (Cicero-North Syracuse)
05 10 G Lucy Covley (Penfield)
P 12 F Jenice Winter (South Shore)
P 11 G Africa Williams (Banneker)
Tenth team
01 12 G Ariana Apostopolous (Ursuline)
02 12 F Geena Gallo (Ballston Spa)
03 11 G Abbey Timpano (Cicero-North Syracuse)
05 12 G Heather Hebert (Hilton)
09 12 F Danielle Powell (Pine Bush)
Eleventh team
01 12 G Sabrina Diaz (Carmel)
04 11 G Tess Wicks (Horseheads)
04 12 F Madison Ward (Binghamton)
06 12 C Emma Sobieraski (Lockport)
C 12 G Ayana Ratliff (Bishop Loughlin)
Twelfth team
01 12 G Brittney Gullo (John Jay East Fishkill)
03 10 F Melissa Fumano (West Genesee)
05 12 G Dana Cohen (Greece Athena)
09 11 F Keneisha Lawrence (Newburgh Free Academy)
C 12 G Darius Faulk (Nazareth)
Thirteenth team
05 12 C Shannon Kilpatrick (Greece Athena)
06 12 G Samantha Wozniak (Lancaster)
09 12 C Sarah Galloway (Kingston)
P 11 G Kristen Olsen (Staten Island Curtis)
P 12 F Aries Adams (Murry Bergtraum)
Fourteenth team
C 11 G Jasmine Alston (Bishop Loughlin)
C 11 G Imani Tate (Bishop Loughlin)
C 12 F Onia Webb (Cardinal Spellman)
P 12 F Krystal Pearson (Truman)
P 12 G Joyalevern McFarland (Bronk JFK)

Class A

Player of the Year: Christa Scognagmiglio (Pearl River-1)
Coach of the Year: Mario Velazquez (Rochester East-5)

First team
01 12 G Asia Jackson (Peekskill)
01 12 G Christa Scognagmiglio (Pearl River)
05 11 F Rose Ayala (Rochester East)
05 11 G Aaliyah Dunbar (Rochester East)
06 12 G Kallie Banker (Grand Island)
Second team
02 11 G Cassie Broadhead (Scotia-Glenville)
02 12 G Brooke O’Shea (Averill Park)
08 12 G Brooke Gerstman (Lynbrook)
11 12 G Alison McKenna (John Glenn)
C 11 F Kelsey Carey (St. Joseph Hill)
Third team
01 12 G Raegan Knox (John Jay Cross River)
09 10 G Julianne Wilkerson (Red Hook)
11 11 G Shannon Duer (Islip)
11 11 F Bridget Ryan (Harborfields)
P 12 G Jenny Ramirez (Lab Museum)
Fourth team
01 12 F Beatriz Williams (Byram Hills)
02 12 C Bridget Carney (Averill Park)
05 12 G Paige Hill (Pittsford Mendon)
06 11 C Cassie Oursler (Grand Island)
08 12 F Christina Mangels (Garden City)
Fifth team
01 11 F Maeve Parahus (Albertus Magnus)
03 12 G Maggie Brown (Cortland)
A 12 G Kylie Reinholtz (Nichols)
08 12 G Amanda Johansen (North Shore)
09 12 G Jenna Wood (Cornwall)
Sixth team
01 11 G Toni Pilla (Ardsley)
03 11 G Kayleigh Cavanaugh (Jamesville-Dewitt)
05 12 F Tyra Jones (Rochester East)
C 11 F La’Trice Hall (Buffalo Sacred Heart)
P 11 G Brittany McDonough (Goldstein)
Seventh team
01 12 G Regina Argenzio (Tappan Zee)
02 11 F Sam Hall (Mohonasen)
05 12 F/G Kelsey Hurley (Honeoye Falls-Lima)
C 10 G Jontay Wolton (Holy Angels)
11 12 G Kasey Stolba (Harborfields)
Eighth team
01 12 F Marisa Gardineer (Somers)
01 11 G Kelly Guarino (Albertus Magnus)
03 12 F Ashley Chanatry (New Hartford)
09 12 F Megan Staudle (Cornwall)
P 12 F Sydney Durugordon (Bayside)
Ninth team
01 12 G Allison Cook (Pearl River)
08 12 G Kristen Korzevinski (New Hyde Park)
09 12 G Siena O’Han (Red Hook)
11 11 F Emma Klis (John Glenn)
P 12 F Tyler Moses (Wings Academy)
Tenth team
02 12 G Christina Spicer (Holy Names)
02 12 G/F Monica Compton (Scotia-Glenville)
03 12 G Lindsay Jones (Camden)
04 10 F Rachel Merrill (Owego)
09 12 C Lisa Bouffard (Walkill)

Class B

Player of the Year: Lexi Martins (Irvington-1)
Coach of the Year: Gina Maher (Irvington-1)

First team
01 11 F Lexi Martins (Irvington)
01 11 G Brittni Lai (Irvington)
05 12 F/G Nicole Bini (Aquinas)
A 12 G Paige Kriftcher (LI Lutheran)
A 09 G Boogie Brozoski (LI Lutheran)
Second team
01 12 F Marley Giddens (Irvington)
02 11 G Ailayia Demand (Watervliet)
03 10 G Emily Durr (Utica Notre Dame)
04 10 G Mariah Ruff (Oneonta)
11 11 G Paris Hodges (Southampton)
Third team
03 10 G Anna Ross (Westhill)
03 12 G Amanda Roberts (South Jefferson)
C 12 F Aaron Shabazz (Buffalo O’Hara)
07 12 F Stephanie Linder (Saranac)
A 12 F Yuni Sher (LI Lutheran)
Fourth team
01 11 G Allison Silfen (Blind Brook)
02 11 F Mikayla Deguire (Watervliet)
03 12 F Molly Hourigan (Jordan-Elbridge)
03 10 F Austin Stevens (South Jefferson)
04 12 G Bryn Loomis (Norwich)
Fifth team
03 12 G Kayla Kibling (Syracuse Bishop Ludden)
06 12 F Jennie Thies (Southwestern)
08 11 F Katie Durand (Cold Spring Harbor)
11 12 Kesi Goree (Southampton)
A 12 F Jacquie Kennedy (Poly Prep)
Sixth team
02 12 G My’Asia Alston (Cohoes)
05 12 F Jordan Yestremski (Bath)
07 11 G Marle Curle (Plattsburgh)
A 12 F Bethany Claps (Staten Island Academy)
A 10 F Tamara Simpson (Portledge)
Seventh team
02 12 G Emily Fuller (Granville)
03 12 G Amelia Heiselman (Bishop Grimes)
04 12 F Claire Walsh (Chenango Valley)
C 10 G Ciara Rosten (St. Mary’s Lancaster)
A 11 G Carolyn Binder (Rye Country Day)
Eighth team
01 11 G Brianna Celaj (Briarcliff)
02 12 G Sam Randio (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk)
03 11 F Allyson Freiermuth (Holland Patent)
04 11 F Kelsey Baker (Oneonta)
C 11 G Leah McDonnel (Buffalo O’Hara)
Ninth team
02 11 F Lashana Tolliver (Watervliet)
03 10 G Samantha Peebles (Westhill)
06 12 G Jessie Dewaters (Royalton-Hartland)
07 09 C Shannon Ryan (Beekmantown)
09 12 C Regina Steele (Ellenville)
Tenth team
04 11 G Michaela Transue (Chenango Forks)
05 11 FG Brittany Mesler (Wellsville)
07 12 G Alisha Ducette (Saranac)
09 12 G Alex Garcia (Highland)
10 11 F Abby Kelly (Salmon River)

Class C

Player of the Year: Dani DeGregory (Greenwich-2)
Coach of the Year: Walter Dorman (Hoosic Valley-2)

First team
02 12 G Dani DeGregory (Greenwich)
02 11 G Cassidy Chapko (Hoosic Valley)
03 12 G Stevie Ray (Fabius-Pompey)
06 12 G Marah Maycock (Randolph)
09 12 G Makenzie Burud (John A. Coleman)
Second team
02 12 G J’Vanay Santos (Albany Academy)
02 11 F Liz Harvey (Berne-Knox-Westerlo)
04 10 G Miranda Drummond (Harpursville)
04 12 GF Taylor Chaffee (Watkins Glen)
09 12 G Kate Shults (John A. Coleman)
Third team
01 11 F Maia Hood (Alexander Hamilton)
02 12 G Molly Lauver (Cambridge)
05 11 G Kaleigh Cicero (Perry)
05 12 G Danielle Kwiecien (Perry)
06 11 G Shawna Raymond (Frewsburg)
Fourth team
03 11 F Kristin Dodge (Fabius-Pompey)
04 12 F Detta Gulbo (Elmira Notre Dame)
06 09 G Mckenna Maycock (Randolph)
09 11 F Mareena Dimilia (Tri-Valley)
Fifth team
02 12 C Sarah Madden (Voorheesville)
03 12 F Jenna Becker (Little Falls)
04 11 G Olivia May (Elmira Notre Dame)
05 11 G Alexandra Flint (Keshequa)
09 11 G Mardelle Jean (Chester)
Sixth team
02 12 G/F Sara Tironi (Cambridge)
03 11 F Kristin McGraw (Thousand Islands)
03 12 G Brittany LaForce (Weedsport)
05 12 F Erin Cleveland (Pavilion)
09 12 G Lindsey Dunne (Florida)
Seventh team
01 11 G Jasmine Robinson (Alexander Hamilton)
03 10 G/F Genevieve Schoff (Little Falls)
05 11 G/F Bailey Hixson (Red Jacket)
09 10 F Emily Curley (John A. Coleman)
11 12 G Melissa Rogers (Southold)
Eighth team
03 11 G Alexis Fauvelle (West Canada)
03 12 G/F Samanatha Carswell (Herkimer)
04 12 F Carolyn Butler (Walton)
07 12 G/F Dani Balestrini (Lake Placid)
A 08 G Sydney Zambrotta (Upper Room)

The Journal News All-Stars have been selected for the 2011-12 girls basketball season with Ossining’s Saniya Chong becoming the Westchester/Putnam Athlete of the Season for a second-straight year and Pearl River’s Christa Scognamiglio collecting her third-straight Rockland Athlete of the Season award.

You can view the feature story on Saniya Chong, along with the rest of the Westchester/Putnam Coach of the Year, First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention here.

You can view the feature story on Christa Scognamiglio, along with the rest of the Rockland Coach of the Year, First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention here.

I was informed that Ossining’s Saniya Chong has been invited to compete for a roster spot on the USA Basketball U-18 National Team.

Chong will participate in a three-day trial period from May 18-21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where only 12 girls will be selected.

The trials were by invite only, so you know from that little fact alone, she will be in competition alongside some of the best young players in the country.

The U-18 National Team will compete in the 2012 FIBA U-18 championships from Aug. 15-19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Just a heads-up for those who are interested…

The Journal News Girls Basketball Player of the Year, along with the First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention selections (for both Westchester/Putnam and Rockland County) will be published in Saturday’s paper.

I will also be posting the links here on the blog.

*Note: Though we already made a post here on the blog of the All-Section list, you will see it published in the paper on Saturday as well.

Two weeks ago I tendered my resignation at The Journal News — today was my last official day on the job.

I want to thank all of you (maybe I should say the vast majority of you instead) for  making the past six months extremely enjoyable. I have gotten to know many of you (coaches, parents and players) over this time, and am a better person and reporter as a result. At times, some of you can be tough, but I can truly say that I’m leaving the Journal News with the utmost respect and admiration for the community surrounding the area’s girls high school basketball. I would also like to thank my colleague, The Great Rob Cristino, for helping me out with this beat. I am leaving you guys in great hands.

I encourage all of you to stay in touch. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to talk about what I’m doing next on this blog (you can find that, along with ways to contact me, through the magic powers of Google), but I will still be interested in the local basketball scene.

Lastly, I want to reassure all of you* that even though I am leaving before the Journal News Player of the Year and All Stars story gets published (it will be in the paper on April 14), the choices will still be, for the most part, mine. (Rockland is me, Westchester/Putnam is Rob).

*I acknowledge that those of you who are not my biggest fans might not feel so reassured upon hearing this news. Oh well.

Thank you all again,

Sincerely,

Yaron

By Chris Perez

NEW ROCHELLE— With less than five minutes left in the second half, Ursuline’s Ariana Apostolopolous gained possession and looked to score when an inbounds pass from the other team was thrown directly to her.

But instead of putting the ball in the hoop, the referees blew the whistle and stopped play while everyone inside the Wellness Center at the College of New Rochelle burst into laughter.

After all, this was an all-star game, and all-star games are supposed to be fun.

“Honestly, I knew we were on defense, they just passed me the ball,” Apostolopolous said, “so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe we are on offense!’ ”

Apostolopolous and other seniors around Section 1 competed in the 2012 Section One Girls Basketball Senior Games to Benefit Breast Cancer Research on Saturday afternoon. Four teams — dressed in white and pink uniforms — competed in two games. The games, which were the final organized basketball games for many of the girls, were a fitting way to end some illustrious careers.

“It’s really been amazing,” said three-time Class B state champion Irvington’s Marley Giddins. “It’s nice to come out and play with some of these girls, I’m friends with a lot of them.”

Peekskill’s Asia Jackson was named one of the two Most Valuable Players of the second game, leading the White Team to a 101-70 victory. Jackson came close to a double-double, with 13 points, nine rebounds and six steals.

“It feels good,” Jackson said with a laugh, “another trophy I can add to my collection.”

Jackson received help from Carmel’s Sabrina Diaz and Maria Regina’s Lisa Mendez, both of whom finished with 15 points. Suffern’s Kaitlyn Wood connected on some deep 3-pointers to finish with nine points.

White Plains’ Sofia Roman led the Pink Team with 15 points, while Mount Vernon’s Sade King scored 12. Giddins was MVP of the Pink Team, scoring 11 points.

In the first game of the day, the White Team beat the Pink Team 63-57. Forward Jamie Rose Zappolo of North Salem took home MVP honors for the winning team with 10 points.

I did not expect to get MVP,” Zappolo said. “I just wanted to come out here and play. It’s the best feeling; I ended my high school career the best way.”

The game was close throughout. Team Pink was paced by Westlake’s Tina Karaqi, who finished with 11 points and was named MVP of her team.

“It was amazing to see all of us come together and play one last time,” Karaqi said. “I’m going to miss basketball a lot.”

Mendez, who was a late addition to the rosters, beat out Sleepy Hollow’s Jaime Bucci in the 3-point competition that took place between games. Mendez knocked down eight triples in the first round before ousting Bucci with 11 in the final.

“To show my face and say that Catholic schools have a lot of game, too,” Mendez said when asked why she attended. “It was a big experience for me.”

Close to $500 was raised for breast cancer awareness during the day, according to Rye Neck coach Cathy Toolan. T-shirts were sold and $3 donations were taken at the door. With no all-star game last year, the game returned for a good cause.

“It’s a good experience for everybody, I think,” Toolan said. “Hopefully it will continue.”

Team 1
Sofia Roman, White Plains, (5-6), G
Sade King, Mount Vernon, (5-2), G
Brianna Rhett, New Rochelle, (5-5), G
Sarah Goldring, Byram Hills, (5-6), G
Kim Hanlon, White Plains, (5-9), G
Beatriz Williams, Byram Hills, (5-9), G/F
Ariana Apostolopolous, Ursuline, (5-7), G
Mary Miceli, New Rochelle, (5-7), G
Jasmine Hairston-Harris, Gorton, (5-10), F
Marley Giddins, Irvington, (5-9), G/F
Grace Leishman, Rye, (6-0), C
Diaisha Richards, Mount Vernon, (5-7), G/F
Cary Berry, Putnam Valley, (5-11), F

Team 2
Kaitlyn Wood, Suffern, (5-7), G
Troi Nolan, Peekskill, (5-5), G
Lauren Quattrocci, Brewster, (5-9), F
Sabrina Diaz, Carmel, (5-3), G
Kerry Sullivan, Pearl River, (5-5), G
Marissa Delzio, Brewster, (5-5), G
Cristy Carty, Pearl River, (5-8), G
Devona Paul, Tappan Zee, (6-0), C
Christa Scognamiglio, Pearl River, (5-9), G
Reagan Knox, John Jay, (5-8), G
Brianne Schneider, Clarkstown North, (5-10), F
Asia Jackson, Peekskill, (5-6), G
Nicole Oliver, Carmel, (5-9), F

Team 1
Marisa Bella, Rye Neck, (5-4), G
Gabrielle Pinto, Eastchester, (5-9), F
Catherine Van Eyck, Mamaroneck, (5-8), G
Samantha Simpson, Saunders, (5-7), G
Kirstin Tamucci, Rye Neck, (5-5), G
Jessica Smith, Saunders, (5-6), G
Lynasja Cox, Brewster, (5-6), G
Rori Stark, Brewster, (5-7), G
Tina Karaqi, Westlake, (5-11), C
Shonae Draper, Peekskill, (5-5), G
Dottie Bradshaw, Peekskill, (5-10), F

Team 2
Jamie Rose Zappolo, North Salem, (5-11), F
Marisa Gardineer, Somers, (5-1), F
Kelli Vester, Mount Vernon, (5-6), G
Jamie Sisca, Somers, (5-7), F
Danasia Needham, New Rochelle, (5-4), G
Jamie Bucci, Sleepy Hollow, (5-6), G
Angie Bargon, Palisade Prep, (5-5), G
Hannah Smith, Ardsley, (5-9), G
Kerri Vester, Mount Vernon, (5-7), F
Kelsey Barry, Hastings, (5-11), C
Jazzmin Hylton, New Rochelle, (5-9), F