December 16, 2011
2011/2012 Team Preview: |
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Point guard Vanessa DaSilva is part of an all-senior starting lineup for Kearny. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Kearny Kardinals Photo Gallery |
By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
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After being one of the younger teams in the county the last few seasons, few can match the age and experience of Kearny.
With an all-senior starting five, four of them with starting experience, The Kardinals have the type of experience head coach Jody Hill hasn't had the luxury of having in her tenure.
"We definitely have the experience," Hill said. "My five seniors know the system, they know the program we've been trying to instill the past three to four years. I feel like our practices are more productive because we can skip a little bit of the basic things with the returning players and make it a little bit more complicated."
At the forefront of this quintet is 5-foot-8 wing Stefanie Gomes. A year removed from averaging 16 points per game, a stronger Gomes looks poised to take over as the top scorer after the graduation of Janitza Aquino.
"I do see a new sense of confidence in her," Hill said. "She has improved her game. She's penetrating to the basket in a way she's never done and I credit that to her summer ball. She played a lot of basketball over the summer with the guys. Playing with the guys has definitely made her a tougher player."
The unenviable task of replacing Aquino, the school's all-time leading scorer, falls on the shoulders of Vanessa DaSilva. A starter last season at the two-guard, the 5-foot-3 DaSilva provides defensive toughness for the Kardinals.
Despite being undersized, Kearny is one of the league's better defensive teams thanks to a pair of three-year starters in Michelle Goncalves and Angel Conde. The 5-foot-5 Goncalves is often paired against the opposition's top scorer. Conde has the versatility and basketball IQ to play at all five positions despite standing at just 5-foot-5.
"Over the years we've been putting (Angel) in any spots we needed," Hill said.. She's confident into stepping into that role. It is nice because you don't find that too often. If we get into foul trouble with somebody I can have her play a post player because she's smart. She might be small, but she knows how to defend the post player. I can put her on a point guard because she's quick enough."
Mercedes Lois is Kearny's lone true forward in the lineup and will be asked to rebound and stretch the defense with her outside shooting.
Forward Noura Farih, a post player who's was called the most improved player from last season by Hill, leads an all-junior group off the bench. Mandy Jiang provides an outside scoring threat while guards Jamie Carlin and Abigail Yanchapanta bring energy and defense. Junior forward Sylwia Kolodziej is the squad's tallest player at 5-foot-10 and could play a key role on the glass as the season goes along.
2011-12 Kearny Overview |
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