Harrison girls set to run the court, and go deep into playoffs
By Skip Pearlman
The Harrison High girls basketball team lost some good talent to graduation last spring, including All-Section center Kyle Lefkowitz and PG Paige Brabant. But with Gia Mancini and Gabby Morris back to lead a strong group of returnees and newcomers, the Huskies are looking forward to a good winter.
“We have a good combination of upper class experience, and a very successful JV team last year,” Harrison coach Louis Kail said. “The youth and experience is a nice combination.”
Morris, a senior guard, and Mancini, a junior guard, are the team’s only returning starters from last year’s 11-9 squad that lost to Ardsley in the sectional quarterfinals. Junior forward Jess Scazzero and seniors Alexandria Franco (PG), Alexis Shannon (G) and Julia Soltz (F) also return from last year’s team.
Freshmen Avery LaBarbara (PG) and Jamie Pravino (G), junior Stevie Capelli (F), sophs Kendall Lefkowitz (F) and Megan Clow (F), and senior Carly Uretta (G) all join the varsity team this season.
Harrison’s opening night lineup could include Mancini, Morris, Capelli, Scazzero and Franco, with Lefkowitz, LaBarbara and Shannon coming off the bench. But nothing is certain.
“I think our starters have played together for a while,” Kail said. “The seniors have taken control, and done a great job buying into our philosophy.”
The coach said he wants his team to take advantage of its speed.
“ Our ability to get up and down the court should cause problems for opponents,” Kail said. “All of them can dribble, they all can shoot, and shoot three’s – which is pretty exciting.
“One thing we pride ourselves in is that we have no one go-to player,” Kail added. “We can have five or six girls who can lead us in scoring or rebounding in any game.”
Harrison will be in a league that includes Rye, Port Chester, Eastchester and Pelham, and Kail believes the Huskies can play a role.
“Winning a league title is always a goal,” he said. “Rye has a lot back, and they will be a threat. Pelham and Eastchester are new to the league… but I expect us to be in the mix in late February, and we’d like to go farther into the playoffs than we went last year.”
The Huskies open the winter season hosting Ursuline B December 8 at 6:15 p.m.
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