Winchester Girls Basketball Team Counting on Senior Leadership

Winchester girls basketball coach Jason Cacciapuoti said that a strong senior class has the program headed in the right direction.

After missing the playoffs three years ago, the team went .500 two years ago and finished last season 14-7. Now seniors Samantha Mangano, Shelby Santini, Katelyn Weber and Olivia Macrorie are ready to make one final step.

"We're very fortunate to have such a strong class," Cacciapuoti said. "Each one has played an integral role. They've been very committed to improving the program from their first day as freshman all the way to now."

Mangano, a forward, is a three-year starter who can be a difficult matchup because of her size and perimeter game. Santini, a two-year starter at guard, is a slasher who is difficult to defend. She gets to the basket frequently and stretches the floor with her perimeter game.

Weber, returning starting forward, is a physical, hard-working player who gets up and down the court really well and has improved her offensive game. And Macrorie is a long player with good jumping ability who is tough on the boards and gives the team second and third chances on offense.

The Sachems have four more returning players in senior Nicole Vermes, junior Maggie Connolly and sophomores Sophie Debler and Elise Testa.

Vermes is a strong defensive rebounder with good hands, Connolly is known for her quickness, Debler attacks the basket on offense and Testa is an aggressive defender.

Those returners must replace graduated seniors Julie Favorito and Christine Casey, who were key to last year's success.

"It's very hard to fill their shoes," Cacciapuoti said. "With their toughness, competitiveness and athleticism, they were our heart and soul for a couple years."

But Cacciapuoti said that consistency will be the key to continuing the significant strides the program has made over the past three seasons.

"We need to continue to work to get better every day," the coach said. "If we put a full 32 minutes together on the defensive end, rebound and take care of the basketball, we'll be successful this season."

Winchester girls basketball
Last season: 14-7
Key players: Samantha Mangano, Sr., F; Shelby Santini, Sr., G; Katelyn
Weber, Sr., F; Olivia Macrorie, Sr., F.
Key losses: Julie Favorito, G; Christine Casey, F.
Outlook: The team has turned around its fortunes and has qualified for
the postseason two years in a row, but is now poised to take the next
step after two straight first-round exits. A strong senior class and
eight returning players have the potential to do it, but the Sachems
must focus on rebounding and defense to continue to improve.
Quote: "We're heading in a direction we want to be in," coach Jason Cacciapuoti.