Windsor will field a veteran squad under coach Joe Passalacqua
The sky may be the limit for the Lady Jaguars this winter, as they open the 2017-18 basketball season loaded with both talent and experience.
Head coach Joe Passalacqua has taken the reins from former coach Jeff Paul, hoping to lead the team to greater heights in the rough and tumble North Bay League, and perhaps a deep run in the North Coast Section playoffs.
The Jags are coming off a solid 2016-17 campaign that included a 6-8 mark in the NBL and a trip to the NCS tournament, finishing up with an overall record of 12-15.
Should things fall into place this year, the team figures to be even better, perhaps competing with the likes of Santa Rosa and Montgomery for the upper echelon in league. Defending champion Cardinal Newman is expected to be the class of the NBL again this year.
“Our strength is definitely senior leadership,” said Passalacqua, back for his second tour of duty after guiding the program from 2005-2011. “If the kids step up and play together we have the potential to be really good.”
The Jags have the rare advantage of a nucleus of four-year varsity seniors in shooting guard Hannah May and point guard Sabrina Simili, along with forwards Gabby Giddings and Mattie Murphy. Each are four-year starters and are loaded with experience.
They’ll be joined by third-year senior forward Cecillia Smith, third-year junior guard Tori Russotti, senior second-year guard Jackie Vieyra, second-year senior forward Alysha Woods and second-year junior guard Caitlyn Murphy.
The Lady Jags will open the winter schedule in the Lady Cat Classic Tournament hosted by Marin Catholic in Kentfield on Nov. 30-Dec. 2, and will come home to host the Windsor Invitational Tournament on Dec. 7-9. Participating teams will include Windsor, St. Bernard’s, Eureka, Vanden, Analy, Montgomery, Rincon Valley Christian and Napa.
