Mepham Pirates Girls Basketball Season Preview

2009-10 Record: 6-12 (Lost in second round of playoffs to Massapequa)

Head Coach: James Mulvey (7th season)

Assistant Coach: Kristin Conlon

Top Players: Kristen O'Brien (captain), G; Nicole Castaldo, G/F; Mary Galgano, G; Jillian Picinich, PG; Samantha Hishmeh, G

The Lady Pirates boast an incredible starting lineup that starts with O'Brien. She has already collected two all-county awards as a freshman and sophomore and is aiming for her third this season.

"She's a very unselfish player that can score with the best of them. She's just a natural scorer, a great shooter, and just kind of does everything we ask her to do," said Mulvey of O'Brien. "… We put her in every spot on the court [last season], she was the one kid that just wasn't hurt last year, so she played every position. She does everything for us. She's our top rebounder, she's our top scorer, top three-point shooter and top foul shooter."

Sophomores Castaldo and Galgano were also both all-conference selections as freshman last season. Hishmeh, another sophomore, has been playing during the offseason with O'Brien, Castaldo and Galgano to make sure their chemistry on the court is picture perfect.

"They play all year round and work so hard," said Mulvey of his core-four. "They just bring effort. They're always playing."

Joining the talented core of players, and making her long-awaited return to the court, is Picinich, who missed the entire 2009-10 season with a torn ACL. Picinich was an all-conference player during her sophomore season in 2008 and is expected to make an immediate impact with the team.

Expectations: With a new conference realignment which relies on school size, as opposed to ability, Mepham has its sight set on one goal: the Conference AA-III title.

"We think we're a candidate to win Conference AA-III," Mulvey said. "We think we're right in the mix to win that conference and host a home playoff game."

O'Brien, who now has three full years of varsity experience under her belt, will be expected to be a leader both on and off the court for a young team that has a lot to look forward to if everything goes as expected this season.

"We're a young team this year and we have a lot of new girls, but I'm looking forward to leading the team," O'Brien said. "… Last year we got a lot of experience playing teams like Baldwin and Uniondale. Being a young team, we're expecting to just take this season in stride and use it as a way to get better."

Big Games: 12/14 vs. Calhoun; 12/21 @ Kennedy; 1/4 vs. Elmont; 1/21 @ Calhoun; 1/28 vs. Kennedy; 2/1 @ Elmont

While Mulvey noted that every game of the season is important, there were a few teams that jumped off of the schedule. The classic district rivalry between Mepham, Calhoun, and Kennedy is always on the minds of all three teams.

"Calhoun and Kennedy are in-district rivals," Mulvey said. "… Elmont is historically a very good team."

News & Notes: Mepham's youth is obvious from the get-go. The team has just three seniors and even called up an eighth-grader, Megan Anderson, to help contribute. Their youthfulness only points to a bright future at Mepham, but Mulvey said that in order to be successful this season, the girls who do not play year-round will have to step up in big situations.

"We need some big production from our bench," he said. "… Girls that are not all-year basketball players need to step up."

Last year's starting squad was hit with the injury bug and lost four players in a one-week span. This season, with everyone healthy, three all-conference players, one all-county player and a number of young stars in the making, the Lady Pirates will be tough to stop.

"I think we're going to be good this year," Castaldo said. "Teams are going to be bigger than us this year, but we're a fast team so we'll be able to fast-break and score some points."

Roster