With all the leagues and conferences reconfigured, it’s a little mind-spinning to start fresh. But that’s exactly what will happen for most teams in Section 1 this year.
In this new geographical configuration, teams will mostly play those in their own conference. I know you want to know who the best players and teams are in their respective classes, but we have plenty of days, weeks and month to discuss that. For now, let’s look at the favorites and potential all-stars in each conference.
I’ll start with Conference 1. Below I have listed the league alignments for the conference. For each league I will post my favorite and my challenger, and why. At the bottom are my preseason all-conference teams.
Enjoy…
Preseason CONFERENCE 1 breakdown —
League A:
Arlington
Beacon
JJEF
Lourdes
Poughkeepsie
Ketcham
Favorite — Lourdes: Yes, the Warriors lost a Division I player in Kim Dweck and a solid forward in Rachel Crittenden, but Teneka Whittaker is one of the best players in the section. Other young players will emerge around her. I don’t see anyone here that will challenge them.
Top challenger — Arlington: The rest all lost top talent, like Caitlynn Moran from JJEF and Kara Tancredi from Beacon. The Admirals lost some of theirs, but enough returns from a 14-8 season, led by Rachel Perrone.
League B:
Brewster
Carmel
Lakeland
Mahopac
Panas
Yorktown
Favorite — Lakeland: Tough call, but I’ll take the Hornets. They feature the hands-down best player in the section and lost just one player from the starting lineup to graduation. With Tori Jarosz back, a full summer and preseason for sophomore point Emily Alicea, last season’s mid-year callup, and seniors Kristin Pappalardo and Vicki Kowalski, the lineup is well-stocked.
Top challenger — Carmel: The Rams earn the slight edge over neighbor Brewster. Brittany Horne (right) and Marie Mullen are back, forming one of the best one-twos in the section.
League C:
Dover
Haldane
Kennedy
North Salem
Pawling
Favorite — Haldane: Another new coach and plenty of competition, but I can’t pick against the Blue Devils. They are the solid choice, with Liz Milner and the DesMarais all back.
Top challenger — North Salem: This is another no-brainer. Yes, the Tigers have a new coach as well, but they also have the No. 2 game-changer in the section in 6-foot-7 Danielle Fiacco. She could easily lift them past Haldane.
League D:
Croton
Hen Hud
Ossining
Peekskill
Putnam Valley
Favorite: Ossining — I don’t expect this league to provide much competition. Ossining’s adjustment period will come early without Hayley Awerdick, but it should be fine by January.
Top challenger: Peekskill — It is my annual rite to sell Put Valley a touch short, but I like the progress at Peekskill. A young cast led by Asia Jackson should continue the steady climb toward greater respectability.
Preseason ALL-CONFERENCE 1 —
First-team:
Danielle Fiacco, North Salem
Brittany Horne, Carmel
Tori Jarosz, Lakeland
Alex Venuto, Ossining
Teneka Whittaker, Lourdes
Second-team:
Margo Hackett, Pawling
Asia Jackson, Peekskill
Liz Milner, Haldane
Rachel Perrone, Arlington
Emily Tapio, Brewster
Third-team:
Saniya Chong, Ossining
Briana Jones, Ketcham
Marie Mullen, Carmel
Saretta Nethersole, Hen Hud
Kristin Pappalardo, Lakeland
18 Comments
JOSH, Biordi from Beacon graduated she’s a soph in cortland.
Correct. Hopefully, that will be my only mistake.
Josh,
Some teams may have lost their “top talent” as stated by you, but don’t underestimate the players who were forced to walk in the shadows of these talents. Expect to see a lot of silent players come out of their faces.
Josh,
Very good job as usual, just a few things for you. Cat Thompson is no longer at Lourdes, she transferred to Spackenkill just before the season began, and they also lost Maggie Gallagher (who transferred to John Jay), who would have been a solid contributor this year. Teneka is the best player in that league, but that league is by no means a run away for Lourdes. I agree with you, that Lourdes should still be the favorite, but I do not think that Arlington and Beacon are far behind. I expect Arlington to be very solid with Rachel Perrone, and Olivia Reeves, and Beacon did lose Kara Tancredi, who is obviously going to be extrememely difficult to replace, but she is the only girl that they lost from the team. In Brittani Romanelli, Katie Hallock, Carolanne Delbene, and Ally Rola, the bulldogs have four girls that can consistently score the basketball. Ketcham lost some talent, but they return maybe the second most talented player in the league in Brianna Jones. John Jay lost a lot with Caitlyn Moran, but they have a decent young nucleus, and a very underrated coach in Larry Brooks. I think a real sleeper could be Poughkeepsie. They have a lot of talent, with Elantra Means leading the way, and can put a very long team out on the floor. I for one am very excited about the depth of league A, it might not be as good as League B at this time, but I will be shocked if anyone runs through the league undefeated
ballboy…Are you positive on Briana Jones? I thought she was a senior.
Yes I am positive saw her in the summer league at Poughkeepsie, plus she played AAU with one of our players at Beacon. She is an immensely talented player, who should be a different player than she was last year, when she was just returning from the knee injury. Teams will definately have to game plan against her, she is a grat mix of strength, with the ability to handle the ball
Josh and Ballboy,
Briana Jones is a senior according to MaxPreps info entered by the coach.
Let’s all say a prayer for Martucci as he tries to build at Croton….playing both Ossining AND Peekskill TWICE!!! Good lord.
Why on earth is a program like that in a league like that?! This is hysterical.
OK, Section 1 had Jones listed as a senior last year. I have removed Cat Thompson and added Briana Jones, who would’ve been on the list had I known she was still around.
question…All of the leagues are based on geography this season. Some small schools are in with some larger ones, but that is definitely one of the bigger discrepancies.
Josh,
Thanks for the clarification.
But…”discrepancie(s)”?! More like debacle!
Just looked on maxpreps and they were 3-17 the past two seasons in a row. They should do the right thing by the kids and do what Fox Lane did a few seasons ago and go into the “developmental league.” Does that still exist?
teneka whittaker has enough talent to carry that team…she is a four year vasity player and I have been watching her grow this whole time she is my personal favorite she is phsyical which alot girls like and she gets after people her team will follow she can lead and I believe she will. she is the next anglie auguie from white plains. Arlington will be a change for the warriors but I wouldnt except lourdes to give up 28 leagues straight easily
Croton will not be in that league next year, they will be moved to a new Conference and league.
You will see them with Valhalla, Hamilton, Keio, Westlake Pleasantville in Conference 3.
Josh,
Conference I, League A looks like it did in the ancient times (the ‘70’s) when schools essentially played their neighbors, regardless of the size. Just some minor differences, as Kingston used to be in the league and Arlington was half its present size. But one thing hasn’t changed: it was a tough league then and it will be this year.
League B,
Look out!! Lakeland is ready for a Section Championship and is looking to finish what they didn’t do last season!
Middletown newspaper is reporting that Beacon moving to Sect. 9 next year is pretty much a done deal, also says that Lourdes will be moving down to class B next year.
The move to section 9 is not a done deal yet, but it is definately in the works. Beacon is very unhappy with the league that they have been placed in, not so much for basketball, but for their soccer programs, baseball/softball, and wrestling. I for one am hoping to hang around in Section 1, but we will see. I know that the Principal is very much for the move, but not everyone thinks that it is a great idea
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