Members of the Gateway Regional High School girls’ basketball team prepare yesterday for the upcoming season opener. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
The Lady Gators participate in preseason drills yesterday. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
HUNTINGTON – So what does one do for an encore after finishing the season with an 18-2 record? Shoot for 19-1? 20-0?
“We expect another good strong year,” said Gateway High School girls’ basketball coach Eli Robbins, whose team finished 18-2 a year ago. “But we would like to go a bit further in the tournament this season.”
The Lady Gators fell to Granby in the opening round of the Western Massachusetts Division III tournament to end their 2010-11 season short of a title shot.
The odds are good that Gateway can repeat their regular season success, and maybe improve on that postseason history.
Senior guard Chelsea Merritt, senior forward Paige Fairman, and Paige’s sister, Brooke, a junior forward, are three big reasons why the Lady Gators have a chance for a third straight Tri-County League title.
This trio, and fellow returnees Kaitlin Hurtle and Aly Brown, both senior guards, and junior center Katelyn Mastello should pose a threat to anyone in the league.
“Our core group has been playing together for three years,” coach Robbins said. “Experience is definitely our strength.”
Robbins said Gateway with promising, young players filling out the rest of the varsity unit as well as the JV squad, is also one comprised of speed.
The Lady Gators will be tested right out of the gate when they host Holyoke Catholic inside the “Gator Pit” on Monday, December 12. It will also be interesting to see how New Leadership and Franklin Tech stack up to the hometown team again as well.
The boys’ team opens the season Dec. 13 at home against Palmer before a big rivalry game against Southwick Dec. 16.
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Westfield Voc-Tech announced its varsity team late Wednesday night.
The team, anchored by eight seniors, also consists of one junior and three sophomores, new head coach Kyle Dulude said.
“It will be a difference for us this year,” Dulude said. “But we’re hoping to use a little bit of that experience left from last year and mixing it in with maybe some older kids, some bigger kids.”
Voc-Tech will seek a repeat trip to the postseason.
“I like our squad that we got,” Dulude said. “It’s hard to tell this early how we’re going to do. We’re going to take it one day at a time and get ready for the season.”
The Tigers will open their 2011-12 regular season at home against Turners Falls on Monday, December 12.
