Girls Basketball: Huntington 2011 Preview

Despite a new coach, the  girls basketball team looks to build on last season's playoff berth and extend its winning tradition. Coach Mike Kaplan takes the helm for Brad Reminick, who stepped aside after seven seasons to coach the boys basketball team.

Kaplan inherits a Blue Devils team with a good mix of young talent and veteran experience. That depth not only sets the program up for a good year, but a great future. The girls look to make a push further into the playoffs this year after falling, 53-40, to Eastport-South Manor in the first round of the Suffolk playoffs.

But that challenge won't be easy. A league restructuring bumps the Blue Devils up into League IV this season.

Last Season: 8-10 overall,  7-7 League V.

Coach: Mike Kaplan (first year).

Top Players:

• Jackie Waldron, senior, guard
• Emma Hayes-Hurley, senior, guard
• Raynisha Witherspoon, junior, forward 
• Heather Forester, eighth grade, forward

Position Breakdown: Jackie Waldron, who averaged 12 points a game last year, will be a force to contend with this year all across the court. Waldron, along with fellow senior captain Emma Hayes-Hurley, will be leading what Kaplan believes to be a fast-paced offense.

"Jackie's our three-point shooter," Kaplan said. "Otherwise we'll be running a lot of run and gun."

Raynisha Witherspoon and Heather Forester lead the Blue Devils in the low post. Forester is one of two eighth graders that joined the team this year and will be using her height to keep opponents off the offensive boards.

Defense will set the tone and feed the break.  Kaplan believes the girls will have a great chance to work on their basketball IQ. "We're going to be doing a lot of trapping," Kaplan said. "But we need to work on our positioning first."

Expectations: The Blue Devils plan to use last year's success -- which took them into the Suffolk playoffs -- as motivation. The team has a range of experience with players from eighth grade to seniors, which Kaplan thinks will work to their advantage. 

"We plan on continuing the Huntington tradition," Kaplan said. "We have high goals. It's going to be fast-paced."

Key Games:

• Dec. 10-11: Under Armor Classic Tournament @ St. John the Baptist
• Dec. 21:Hauppauge @ Huntington, 6:15 p.m.
• Dec. 27: Huntington @ Glenn, 5 p.m.
• Jan. 6: Half Hollow Hills West @ Huntington, 6:15 p.m.
• Jan. 18: West Babylon @ Huntington, 6:15 p.m.