For the early part of the season, we’re going to be doing posts focusing on different schools in our continuous effort to fill your girls basketball appetite. In today’s spotlight, White Plains.
The Tigers began the season with an opening 55-48 win over Scarsdale and have rolled out of the gate to a 4-1 start. The only loss so far came by three points in a 38-35 loss to a tough Ursuline team. Behind the play from guards Kim Hanlon and Sofia Roman, long-time White Plains head coach Sue Adams (who returned for her 11th year at White Plains High School) expects her team to continue its competitive play and find a way back to the County Center come sectionals.
How last season ended: The Tigers finished 10-9 last year.
Top players lost to graduation: 5-10 center Yinka Idowu; point guard Veronica Roman; and forward Tatiana Francis.
Top returners: Senior guard Kim Hanlon (who will play college ball at Stony Brook University next year) has led the way for White Plains. She has good ball handling skills to go with a nice outside shot and can easily slash her way to the basket. Senior guard Sofia Roman (who will play at Darmouth next year) can hit the outside jumper. Senior forward Brittney Fields brings a tough physical game in the paint and is White Plains’ best rebounder.
Biggest strength: Coach Adams highlights the team’s guard play as a major strength and with the strong play from both Hanlon and Roman, it’s easy to see why.
Biggest concern: The intensity level needs to increase for White Plains and remain at a heightened level. The question for White Plains is if Hanlon and Roman can show enough leadership on the court, while the surrounding players step up into their roles to give the Tigers a successful season.
“We have a lot of talent on the team and if the kids can bring it every night, then we have a good chance to get back to the County Center,” coach Adams said. “Guards can take you a long way in this league.”
