Sporting Views: Recognizing the Area’s Top Athletes in the Winter Season
With less than a month to go in the regular season for the high school winter sports teams, I think it’s time to highlight some of the best winter athletes in 2012-2013. The order in which their names appear in this column has no bearing on their skill level or their importance to their team. 
Kevin Magee (White Plains Hockey): The senior center has every attribute that you want in a talented hockey player. He is without a doubt one of the best hockey players in Section 1 and will lead the Tigers into the postseason. The Tigers defeated last year’s New York State Champion Suffern over a month ago. Despite a few tough losses recently there is no reason why the Tigers won’t contend for the Section 1 crown. Magee is the team leading goal scorer this season.
Matt Conroy (White Plains Hockey): This forward is only a sophomore and he is making headlines. On the ice he skates and works very well with Magee and they’re a tough duo for opponents to stop. Conroy’s stats should only increase next season when Magee graduates. He ranks near the top on his team in assists and has the skill set that will allow him to take over a game.
Chris Stangarone (White Plains Hockey): I can’t write anything new about this extremely talented goalkeeper because it has more than likely already been said since he started for the Tigers when he was in seventh grade. I can’t think of any athlete that has started in a team sport at the varsity level since seventh grade.
Josh James (Stepinac Basketball): There are very few things James can’t do with a basketball. He is a gamer who can beat you in so many ways. He has led the Stepinac Crusaders to 10 wins so far this winter and he will be vital in leading his team into what should be a very competitive postseason. James will be attending Monmouth next year on a basketball scholarship.
Naim Thomas (Stepinac Basketball): Without a doubt the Crusaders are a much better team with him on the floor. After missing the first several games of the season with an injury he has been an impact player in every game since he has been back. He is a tremendous ball handler and has a better than average 3-point shot.
Demarcus Miller (Stepinac Basketball): You can just tell some people are great athletes. Miller could probably succeed in any sport he wants to play. He is the only sophomore on the Crusaders roster and he brings a big spark in his scoring off the bench for his team.
Thomas Johnson (White Plains Boys Track): Tom is a walking reality show. He isn’t afraid to tell you what he is thinking or what he is going to accomplish. Last winter he won the New York State Triple Jump Competition and so far this season hasn’t lost yet in the event. There are several big meets coming up in the next few weeks for him. Winning another state championship in the triple jump is very possible for him.
Tyler Ford (White Plains Boys Track): Ford has the fastest time in New York State at the moment in the 55-meter dash. What’s not to like about that.
4 x 400 Meter Relay Team (White Plains Boys Track): This relay team started off the season by winning the Section 1 Kickoff meet at The Armory. The winning team consisted of Taylor Powell, Alex Woods, Gabriel Darmon and Justin Fischer. On Wednesday this relay team will attempt to qualify for The Millrose Games.
Maia Hood (Alexander Hamilton Girls Basketball): Hood is one of the most talented and skilled players in Section 1. This past weekend Alexander Hamilton won the North Salem Booster Club tournament. In the first round they beat Pawling and then they defeated John Jay Cross River in the Championship game. During those two games Hood compiled 29 points and 21 rebounds.
Tiffany Corselli (Alexander Hamilton Girls Basketball): The proof of Corelli’s talent is in the numbers. Last Friday versus Pawling she had 32 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals and six assists. Then on Saturday against John Jay Cross River she had 27 points, six assists and seven steals. Alexander Hamilton is still undefeated on the season and ranked #1 in New York State Class C.
Johanna Levine (Good Counsel Basketball): This junior is Good Counsel’s leading scorer and one of the reasons why the team has been so successful. The Cougars have a solid chance to make a deep run during the playoffs.
Alexandra Coppola (Hackley Girls Basketball): She is a senior and has been playing at the varsity level since eighth grade. Coppola scored over 1000 career points and in December she had 26 points along with eight rebounds versus Alexander Hamilton in the first round of the Slam Dunk Tournament.
These skilled athletes will make a good number of headlines in the next month and a half.
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