Windsor figures to battle for upper echelon in NBL
Local high school girls basketball fans are advised to fasten their seatbelts this season, as the Lady Jaguars kick off what promises to be a competitive and exciting season.
Under the watchful eye of veteran coach Jeff Paul, the Jags will feature an improved squad that is equal parts skill and experience, and one that may well contend for a top-three spot in the North Bay League standings.
Windsor returns eight players to the roster, including four coming back for their third varsity campaign. The list of returnees includes junior point guard Sabrina Simili, a steady ball handler and defender, junior shooting guard Hannah May, among the team’s top scorers, junior post player Gabby Giddings, a force inside the paint and junior post player Maddie Murphy, a great rebounder and defender.
All four players have paid their dues since coming up to varsity their freshmen year and form the nucleus of a team with high aspirations.
Other varsity returnees are second-year players: senior post player Allison Post, junior guard/forward Cecelia Smith (currently injured), senior guard Samantha Baltazar and sophomore guard/forward Tori Russotti.
Players moving up from last year’s JV squad are junior post player Alyssa Woods, junior guard Jackie Vieyra and sophomore guard/forward Caitlyn Murphy.
At the helm of such a seasoned group, Paul is cautiously optimistic about his team’s potential.
“We’re coming off an injury plagued season last year, and our once young team is now a group of veterans and upper-classmen,” Paul said. “Our expectations are to get back on track, stay healthy, stay focused, practice at game speed daily and improve our defense and offensive production.”
Although defending NBL champion Cardinal Newman is the team to beat, Windsor enters the season with an advantage in the paint against most teams and will no doubt look to exploit it whenever possible.
“Our strength continues to lie in our size and speed at the guard position,” Paul noted. “We’ll continue to utilize our height to create match-up problems for teams, and with our speed we’ll develop a transition game to beat the defense back and get points.”
Scheduling notes
The ladies open the preseason on Nov. 22 (after press time) in the Foundation Game at Justin Siena and visit St. Ignatius (SF) this Saturday, Nov. 26 (5:30 p.m.). Windsor will visit Healdsburg next Tuesday, Nov. 29 (6/7:30 p.m.). The Jaguars will host the first annual Rumble in the Jungle Jamboree Tournament on Dec. 8-10.
