Focus and discipline: Westport girls basketball concludes remarkable winter season
When center Lily Pichette graduated last spring, Westport's Jen Gargiulo must have been wondering where's her offense coming from this winter.
Pichette led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounds. She helped Westport to advance to the Division V Round of 32 in her final year.
Instead, what the Westport second-year head coach received this season was a team that thrives on the defensive end for their offense.
"I think defensively, we created offensive opportunities because we play at an up-tempo kind of 'in-your-face defense,'" Gargiulo said. "It causes teams to play a pace they're not comfortable with."
The Wildcat girls enjoyed a season to remember this winter, finishing with an area-best 16-4 record heading into the upcoming Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament. It's three games better than last year's team.
"I'm lucky," Gargiulo said. "It is the kids. When your team buys in and believes in each other, then you're successful. We're a different-looking team than last year."
Westport began the winter season by winning its first seven games. After suffering their first loss of the season, the Wildcats won nine of its final 12 games.
Ballers, shooters: Who are the Herald News Basketball Players of the Week for Feb. 13-18?
"I think from the beginning this has been a team," said Gargiulo, who improved her regular season record to 29-11. "They push each other and made the decision that every practice, they are going to be the best teammates they can be. They push each other individually as a team, and we just meshed.
"I told the girls in the beginning we stress focus, discipline and composure. Those things have worked well for us. When we focus on defense we're discipline on our offensive opportunities. It translate into good things."
Westport senior and 1,000-point career scorer Leah Sylvain said she sees a difference with the team.
"We had a lot of girls last year and the years before that," the Wildcat senior captain said. This year I think we have our strong five and strong players from the bench. I feel like we work more as a team instead of trying to be individuals. I think that's the biggest difference."
Junior captain Korynne Holden emphasizes the team gets along so well.
"We have so much chemistry that this year even at practice is so much fun," she said. "Being able to play with people you love to be around, really helps us win games and all be positive."
The makeup of the Wildcats
The success of Westport's season begins and ends with the dynamic play of Sylvain and Holden.
Both players are ball hawks and flashy guards. Sylvain is the leading scorer, top assist person, and among the league leaders in steals. Holden is right behind her in points scored and steals.
"Korynne [Holden] and Leah [Sylvain] never give up," Gargiulo said. "They have a constant motor. They can harass people, and they are tenacious. I mean, even until the last minute, they're going to keep fighting."
Other players that Gargiulo said make a big difference in the lineup are junior captain Sarah Perry and sophomore Julia George.
"Sarah Perry is our third captain," she said. "She plays wing and down low for us. She has a big inside presence. The biggest one who stepped up for us is Julia George. She played JV last year and is learning. I think she stepped up to the challenge and works on her game. She has such a bright future ahead of her."
Gargiulo said her inside big players, junior Meghan Molloy and sophomore Jenna Egbe, are learning the game each day.
"Lily [Pichette] was an excellent player," Gargiulo said. "Those are some big shoes to fill. That's what awesome is that these kids have the potential and want to work on them to be the best players they can be. All good stuff."
Tournament time
The Wildcats finished the regular season ranked seventh in the power rankings in Division V. Last season, Westport won a playoff matchup at home against Prospect Hill before bowing out in the Round of 32 in a close game against Douglas.
"We're sitting in a good position for tournament," Gargiulo said.
It's the final high school ride for Sylvain and Holden together, who grew up playing basketball as youths."Leah [Sylvain] is a great teammate and leader," Holden said. "She is always trying to be positive. She is just an all-around great person. We're trying to prepare ourselves for tougher competition. I think we're going to do really well in the tournament."
Sylvain said she do her best to keep the confidence and morale of the team together. The star guard dreams the close-knit Wildcats can advance to the South finals.
"We're trying to teach them to be disciplined and in control," Sylvain said. "We can beat anyone that we play. I hope we get to a neutral site this year. Going to the TD Garden my senior year would be amazing. I think that if any of the years it could happen, it would be this year."
Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Westport girls basketball concludes remarkable winter in 2022-23
