Sports
Girls Basketball: Whitman 2011 Preview
Nine returning players, led by All-Suffolk guard Ally Leftridge, gives the Wildcats playoff edge.
With nine returning players, the Whitman girls basketball team expects to be a factor in Suffolk League II this season and reach the playoffs once again.
The Wildcats finished second to Northport in league play and beat Copiague in the first round of the Suffolk Class AA playoffs a year ago. The run ended with a 44-28 loss to Ward Melville in the second round.
Veteran coach Daniel Trebour will rely on senior Ally Leftridge to lead an extremely athletic team. It's playoffs or bust.
Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Last Season: 15-4 overall, 10-2 League II.
Coach: Daniel Trebour.
Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Top Players:
- Ally Leftridge, senior, guard
- Kelly Bilodeau, sophomore, guard
Position Breakdown: Start with what's missing. The Wildcats will feel the loss of standout Meghan Foehl to graduation. "It's tough to lose a player like Meghan," Trebour said. "It's great that we had so many players returning, but we lost an all-county guard."
Yet Trebour has another all-star to carry the load. All-Suffolk guard Ally Leftridge will assume Foehl's leadership duties. Leftridge and sophomore Kelly Bilodeau, who was an all-league pick last year and on the team since the seventh grade, should be the team's main offensive threats this year. Each has the ability to drive the lane and shoot under pressure.
Trebour stressed just how athletic his team is, being more than simply fast. "They're longer and more athletic than in the past," he said. "We just need to work on our basketball IQ."
Expectations: Whitman's ability fight for rebounds means the Wildcats will be sound on defense. If they can avoid unnecessary turnovers and play smart offense throughout the season, they should have no problem keeping off their heels on defense.
While Trebour believes the team's athleticism should help his team prevail, experience matters. With nine returning players Trebour has his hopes set high for the girls. That depth should help to propel Whitman to another playoff season.
Key Games:
- Dec. 10-11: Under Armor Classic Tournament @ St. John the Baptist
- Jan. 11: Bay Shore @ Whitman, 6:45 p.m.
- Jan. 18: Sachem North @ Whitman, 6:45 p.m.
- Feb. 8: Northport @ Whitman, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 15: Connetquot @ Whitman, 6:45 p.m.
