Season’s on: Mahopac
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- November
- 13
The preseason chatter now takes us to Mahopac, where the Indians return five seniors and one junior who have helped form the core of the team for three years running.
Mahopac, you may remember, started strong last season, and headed into the New Year undefeated at 6-0. But the Indians battled injury, inconsistency and a tougher schedule the rest of the season and finished 5-10 in their final 15 games.
The returnees are led by 6-foot-2 center Gillian Felix (right) and shooting guard Jessie Kavana, a pair of seniors who will play ball in college. Felix orally committed to Division II Caldwell College in New Jersey and Kavana is still deciding between several strong Division IIIs, and both had interest from Division I and Division II programs.
Felix has the height to dominate on the glass and in the paint, while Kavana is a nice compliment because she can score from the perimeter (she has made 48 3’s the last two seasons). They have been Mahopac’s stars for two years, but both must take another step for the team to step into the elite in its league and the section.
They have an experienced supporting cast led by senior guards Bari Chavis and MacKenzy Ryan, senior forward Sarah DeMarzo and junior forward Alexa Madden, who have all played quality minutes the last two seasons. Coach Jerry Fioretti, who took over last year, said he expects two newcomers, guard Samantha Nardo and forward Brittany Craig, to contribute immediately after strong JV seasons as freshman. (Fioretti said another sophomore newcomer, Caitlin Hynes, is expected to miss the season with a knee injury.)
“We have a tough schedule and a lot has to go right for us to be standing in late February,” Fioretti said. “Our defense and rebounding need to improve.”
Mahopac will start with a tough opener. The Indians host North Rockland on Dec. 8.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm by Josh Thomson. 
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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.
Go Pac!! Good luck this season and beyond!
what about dobbs??????????????????????
beacon is lookig pretty good. pretty strong team
this is mahopac’s article wait your turn dobbs/beacon
Hey Josh …..I’m looking forward to the dynamic duo Tori and Kristen of LHS!!
Must be a slow writing season !!!!!
Josh, Great job so far. What about our two defending state Champs Haldane and Briarcliff. Shields and Coon are going to be very hard to replace (based on their body size and strength alone) but what are those two teams looking like this year with out them? How are they going to replace the dominant rebounding and leadership from Coon and the amazing all around play and leadership from Shields? Looking forward to hearing more from you keep up the good work! Also, I know they are probably the way underdog but has white plains gained any new players/improved. They still have arguably the best coach around so what are they looking like?
Ma HO pac is the Bandit’s sleeper team in Class AA. So Coach Faretti better not go to sleep!