Changes across the board in Section 1
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- September
- 2
When the 2007-08 season finally arrives it will have an entirely different look  and not just because Lakeland and White Plains’ highly successful senior classes are gone.
I just received word that Haldane will not retain coach Rich Desiderio (above), making it the latest major change to occur this summer.
Here’s what we know from the offseason so far:
1. New coaches… at Haldane (TBA), Dobbs Ferry (former boys varsity coach Eric Bartel takes over for Ed Feller), Somers (TBA) and Mahopac (former Briarcliff assistant Jerry Fioretti takes over for Michael Hunt).
My take: Section 1 girls hoops will miss Feller, one of the most underappreciated coaches around and a stand-up guy. He left to spend more time with his young family. … Sure, Desiderio was probably the most exciteable coach around, but he really worked hard at his job and cared deeply about his team. Haldane will miss that for sure. … Fioretti will be a great hire at Mahopac. Don Hamlin and his players always had great things to say about him, and Mahopac will be well-served with him in charge of the program. … Jury is still out at Somers, who has yet to hire a replacement for John Murphy.
2. Major transfers… Three of them. Alaina Walker to Albertus Magnus from North Rockland; Lauren Thomas to Rye Country Day from Ursuline; Elissa Goldner, Jaki Goldner’s sister, to Ursuline from Somers.
My take: Walker is one of, if not the, most talented players in Section 1. She will be missed at North Rockland and will instantly make Albertus the favorite in B. (Sorry Briarcliff and Irvington, she is that good.) … Thomas, who had knee surgery this offseason, will make a nice tandem with Alexandra Osborn-Jones at RCDS, but I can’t help but think she’d be better served at Ursuline, which plays much stiffer competition. … Goldner will slide into Ursuline’s frontcourt rotation, which will be formidable yet again, albeit without Thomas and Molly McGlynn.
3. One question… What is this, boys basketball?
Discuss among yourselves…
This entry was posted
on Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 pm by Josh Thomson. 
| 
Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting, Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his fiancee, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University, where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in history.
Maybe Desiderio lands at Somers?
So who’s next in line at Haldane???
The better question is why the lack of stability at Haldane? 3 coaches in three years. I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out that it’s lunatic parents and a bored of education that is incompetent. Same story as every other school…
Great question…. anyone have any ideas on who Haldane will pursue to fill this high profile position?
There is more to coaching than winning, and I know first hand about winning at Haldane. I’ve been a parent through 6 seasons and have followed our team through more than I can recount – all of the Section 1 victories and all of the NYS victories (and losses).
Hiring decisions are (and should be) about the girls and boys in the programs, and the future players that are watching and listening to everything that is going on.
Haldane will hire a replacement coach, and our team will continue it’s winning ways, I hope our Administration and BOE continue to make the right decisions as we move forward.
Haldane’s next Coach could rhyme with Alpo, as in Aldo! Just a gut feeling is all.
Ralph in order for them to continue making the right decisions that means they need to have been making any right decisions. This is not a good decision. Somethings wrong when the volleyball coach coming off of back to back state finals decides not to coach with a bomb squad coming back. Are you a volleyball parent too? Maybe you can shed some light on that decision. FYI Ray Alpo is dog food.
Isn’t Ralph another name for puke?
Shed some light on the volleyball coach leaving? Last years loss in the state final speaks for itself. Change the starting lineup after going 19-0? Maybe he was helped out the door. If not, he should have been.
This wouldn’t be the first time Haldane lost a good coach. Somtimes the evil you know is better than the evil you don’t.
The volleyball coach leaving was the best thing for this team. Is there a coach in Section 1 that would have gone 19-0 and changed the lineup? It may not have made a difference in the outcome, but I would have rather lost with the kids that got me there on the court.
These girls are about to have a great year. There is one thing I know about Joel, the new coach, he always plays to win.
Lots of great points being brought up, but who is thought to be the replacement in Haldane? Any ideas?
Is there anyone out there that thinks a coach, a winning coach, can convey the passion for the game without having a fit on the sidelines? I think there are alot. Screaming is not necessarily a good motivation strategy. It may work for awhile but everyone developes an immunity to it.
Annie, according to Ralph Fleming winning isn’t everything so which is it at Haldane? You can’t have it both ways but parents will always try…
Why else would these kids work their butts off all year playing volleyball? Winning is the goal. Is it the only goal? NO. But it is the #1 goal.
Whoever said winning isn’t everything lied. No team goes out there hoping to lose. I have been on the winning side and the losing side. Winning is the better side.
Parents who sit there and say it isn’t about winning are kidding themselves. As a player, everytime you step foot on the court winning is what you are there for. If it isn’t what you are there for then you shouldn’t be out there.
Well now I’m totally confused by the happenings up in good ol’ Cold Spring. Perhaps if they brought in a babysitter who won the section every year and made sure every nice little girl was the superstar mommy and daddy know that they are, than Ralph, Annie and everyone up in Haldane land would live happily ever after…
Welcome to 2007 blue devil fans. The days of you winning every year in Class D with 5 teams in it, and none of them any good, are over. Girls play AAU and work hard to improve so your run at the top, though glorious, is over. You will have to scratch and claw and play in the off season if you want to win the section. Last years loss in the finals was just the beginning. It’s not the coach’s fault you lost and it isn’t all the players fault, although it would have been nice if someone other than a hobbled Brittany Shields showed up, it is the way of the world in women’s basketball these days.
21st Century -Haldane is the smallest class C school in NY
state. Why they play girls basketball in class C and volleyball in class D is beyond me. You compete by the amount of kids in your school. Even though there are not many D schools in section 1 there are plenty in the state.
Haldane should not even be competing in class C. They earnerd eveyone of those state championships at that level.
Haldane is one school K-12. There is no other school in section 1 like it. To be on top for that long even in class
C is amazing. “Helldane” your comments are MORONIC to say
the least. Your kids must have gotten the crap beat out of them by our kids a couple of times you jealous dip.
X Bulldog before you start calling people morons please do some research. FYI – Classification numbers do differ in certain sports. (that is why Haldane can be C in basketball and D in volleyball.) The classifications for each sport are set by NYS.
“Whose the Moron” My comments about morons had nothing to do with H.S. State classifications in class C or D. My moron comment was directed at “Helldane” with the mommy and
daddy comment which was uncalled for. Please read the blog
from top to bottom before adding your 2 cents.
OK folks. This has officially become a place to trade insult rather than a forum to discuss girls hoops in the LoHud, so let’s cut it out. Either have a constructive conversation about the situation or drop it and wait for another topic.
X Bulldog
Here is your quote
Why they play girls basketball in class C and volleyball in class D is beyond me. You compete by the amount of kids in your school. Even though there are not many D schools in section 1 there are plenty in the state.
Haldane should not even be competing in class C. They earnerd eveyone of those state championships at that level.
Haldane is in fact a class C school in basketball. Beyond you or not!
I know what I wrote “whose the moron”. That classification
comment was for the sake of “21st century’s” comment on
Haldane’s class D titles meaning nothing. Once again the
moron comment was for “Helldane’s” childish mommy, daddy
comment. How can you not see that? Besides, what do you
have against Haldane anyway?
Oh, by the way just to set the record straight I never called anyone a moron. All I said was the statements made were moronic. Not the person, just the statements! Thanks.
Coach Desidero is a fine basketball coach. There is no doubt that this man knows his basketball. But i think from the outside looking in, he may have crossed the line with some of his antics. Yes we all know he is a very passionate coach, and sometimes that can motivate players. No one can really be sure of what went on except the players and Coach Desidero. I wish him all the luck in the world, and the next school to have him will be very lucky.
p.s. Ken Thomas!!!!
My daughter played for coach “D” last year and had nothing but good things to say about him. He was fair and up front with his players. My daughter and family will miss him this
year. Ken Thomas had his own problems in Millbrook and Bill
O’neil had his problems at Haldane. Your guess is as good as
mine for this year.
Why did Lauren Thomas transfer out of Ursuline? From a basketball perspective it doesn’t make a whole lotta sense.
My daughter is a player at Haldane as well and she thought Coach D was the best. She loved playing for him and he went out of his way for her when she had some things she was dealing with that had nothing to do with basketball. My child is not Brittany Shields as a matter of fact she hardly played at all last year but Coach D was there for the stars and everyone else. As a matter of fact he still calls on her even though he is no longer the coach. My husband and I will miss him greatly. “Antics” like beauty are in the eye of the beholder. She is thinking about not even playing this year because she is fed up with all of the BS. If you are not born and raised in Cold Spring than you are looked down upon by the locals of which I am one I am sometimes ashamed to say.
I know that we had a parent who went out of his way to get Coach D for no other reason than he wanted the job himself even though he isn’t remotely qualified. He should be ashamed of himself. All of these people who claim the coaches are no good and a detriment to the kids usually have their own agenda. At least that was the case here at Haldane and that is a fact. But what about our leaders did they do their due diligence? Someone told me the superintendent never even spoke to Coach Desiderio nor did anyone on the school board? That’s not the best way to start your tenure in a new district if that is indeed true.
Best wishes Coach D and thank you for everything you did for our daughter, you will be greatly missed.
Well said Rich.
Good call Mike.
The bears r being overlooked wayyyy to much right now….saying that Alaina walker can beat them alone, are you crazy? yes, it will prob b a good game but Im sorry she is not that good! youa re overlooking the bears, they have such a tremendous player in Coon and very good guards in Blair and Pescetti so how can you say that Alaina will beat them single handedly and take their deserved top ranking away from them? Thats rediculous! I think you need to see the teams play this year in order to make that prediction as well! also, Alyssa Golder did not get cleared at Ursuline. And I have herd that Alaina is on the fence of geting cleared however it is possible she made it. Frazier from Mt.Vernon also moved away.
Briarcliff will still be excellent. Without Walker at Albertus, Briarcliff would easily be the favorite in B. With Walker? I think it’s up in the air who’s the favorite. She is that good.
I never said she could singlehandedly beat anyone, but she clearly changes the Class B landscape.
You are right about Goldner. She was not cleared at Ursuline from what I’ve heard most recently.
Last thing: I can’t see the teams play until they actually play a game. I posted the above comments for a little offseason discussion. All we can do right now is speculate…and try to have some fun doing so.
Coon is a tremendous player? By whose standards? She is a good player but not tremendous. With that said Magnus and Briarcliff are the class of B with Irvington right behind and a potential sleeper in Kennedy.
Walker to Albertus smells fishy>????? Unless its okay to transfer because you can no longer stand your coach, rumor has it she didnt care for COACH MIller at NR
Coon is going division 1 … whats not tremendous about that? people seriously need to find something better to do then try to down play the hard work and talent of teenage female athletes. btw has anyone committed yet or who else is playing in college from here? shields, agguire, duncan…etc?
Saying a kid is a good player is not downplaying anyone or their work ethic. You are either the player herself, her daddy or a close relative. Coon is not a tremendous player in anyone’s book, at least anyone with a clue. She will be lucky to play Division II but is probably looking at Division III which is a great honor just the same. Their have been some great players who have played D3 and she should be happy just to have that opportunity. Unless of course someone is living vicariously through her athletic career.
I am in no way shape or form related to Coon, so why dont you stop making assumptions of which you know nothing about. And stop assuming you know it all, you don’t. What makes you think you have the right to judge what division a player can or cannot play in? I think you should let the college coaches do their jobs, and we should just wait to see the outcome, of where she goes, and then we will see how accurate your statements are. Josh, I am sorry but I think that this blog gets too out of hand with these negative people. Instead of it being a site where you can argue about victories and speak of the talents in the area it has become a place for adults to bash teenage athletes and it gets out of hand. It was a great idea but because of the negative people it has become pretty bad. I just hope that none of these girls read this, it is rediculous, and it could potentially hurt these girls. so girls, dont read this, get off of this site, it will do you nothing but harm, go do your thing on the court and time will tell.
Yeah I can see how you could perceive someone saying that a player is good and has a chance to play in college as being negative. You got me on that one. Shut down the sight Josh!
Elissa Goldner was just recently cleared at Ursuline, she will be playing this season.
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