Girls Basketball: Farmingdale 2011 Preview

After being eliminated from the Nassau Class AA playoffs by MacArthur last February, the girls basketball team is poised to not just return to the postseason, but make a deep run.

The Dalers feature a balanced attack led by strong defensive play.

"We kind of get in people's faces defensively," Dalers coach Pete Cerrone said. "We dictate our offense with our defense. We're very athletic, so we run around. We run kind of a freelance offense, and try to take advantage of the fact that we are athletic." 

With 11 players returning, and a starting lineup that boasts two All-Nassau players as well as two All-League selections, the Dalers are looking to end this season with a Nassau championship.

Last Season: 12-7 overall.

Coach: Pete Cerrone (31st year).

Top Players:

• Kelly McPartland, senior, shooting guard
• Kyra Ochwat, senior, power forward
• Alexis Panariello, sophomore, point guard

• Nadine Hadnagy, sophomore, small forward

Position Breakdown: Leading the way in the backcourt for the Dalers is All-Nassau selection Kelly McPartland. The senior figures to be a major piece of the offense in 2011. She is helped out by a pair of girls who earned All-League honors as freshmen, Alexis Panariello and Nadine Hadanagy.

Forwards Kaitlyn Brosnan and Kyra Ochwat figure to be the backbone of the stiff Dalers defense. However, that doesn't stop Ochwat from contributing on offense. She enters her senior season as one of the biggest all-around threats in Class AA.

The Dalers' bench is by far their most underrated asset. Colleen Reynolds will come in to replace a forward and keep the team going without missing a beat. Cerrone talked about the team's athleticism from top to bottom, including guards Megan Meritz and Jamie Leone.

Expectations: Cerrone is confident in his returning players, and hopes for a successful season.

"Double A is usually a tough league with teams like Massapequa and Baldwin," he said. "We're pretty optimistic that we'll have a pretty successful season though, and shame on us if we don't."

Key Games:

• Jan. 13: Oceanside @ Farmingdale, 5 p.m. 
• Jan. 21: Farmingdale @ Massapequa, 4 p.m. 
• Feb. 1: Uniondale @ Farmingdale, 4:30 p.m. 
• Feb. 8: Hempstead @ Farmingdale, 4 p.m. 
• Feb. 14: Farmingdale @ Syosset, 6:15 p.m.