Girls basketball preview

Panthers welcome return of the core of last year’s team

By Mike Zummo
Posted 11/30/22

Last year was one of the best seasons for the Wallkill Panthers in a long time, as they tore through the regular season to win a Section 9 Class A championship on their way to a berth in the New York …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in
Girls basketball preview

Panthers welcome return of the core of last year’s team

Posted

Last year was one of the best seasons for the Wallkill Panthers in a long time, as they tore through the regular season to win a Section 9 Class A championship on their way to a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association regional championships.

The Panthers had two losses last year, one to start the season and the one that ended their season. In between, they racked up 23 straight wins.
Most of that team is back.

That doesn’t, however, mean there weren’t key losses. They’ve lost senior Emma Schwarzbeck, a key component since her eighth-grade season. She had been a top scorer for the Panthers but gave up some of her offensive points when freshman phenom Zoe Mesuch burst onto the scene.
They’ve also lost Alexis Mesuch and Jordyn Detz to graduation.

But Mesuch is back for her sophomore year, along with her older sister, Grace, who is entering her senior season.

Emma Spindler, who has been on the team since she was an eighth grader returns for her senior year, as do junior twins Alex and Sam Dembinsky. Senior forward Jazmine Medina is also back, as the Panthers look to successfully defend their championships from last year.

The Pine Bush Bushmen turned a corner last year, compiling a 12-7 record, and have lost only Nate Burley to graduation.

They may look young on paper, but they’re experienced.

Sixth-year coach Michelle Bouffard said the Bushmen have had a “great turnout” for tryouts this season and have a deeper roster.

They’ll be led by returning juniors Jah-esa Stokes and Amaya Segarra and returning sophomores Ketura Rutty and Leticia Watson. They’ll mix with seventh grader M’ya Watson, senior Yasmin Aguilar, junior Maggi Ross and two freshmen: Caroline Nigro and Emma Boffalo.

“Even though we are still a very young team, we are experienced at the varsity level,” Bouffard said. “Having more of a bench will help us this year, as opposed to last year, where we struggled with numbers.”

While Pine Bush was improving, last season was a struggle for the Valley Central Vikings, who won four of their 20 games and are looking to return to sectional play this season with more of an experienced roster.

The Vikings had no experience last year and have only lost Olivia Watson.

Returning are Jenna O’Connor, Mac Delmonico and Riley Schmidt, and newcomers Shalesse Joyner and Giselle Johnson will join the team.

“Last year’s team was very young with no varsity experience,” Valley Central coach Bill Michella said. “The girls matured and progressed nicely both as a team and as individuals over the summer. Sections is our goal and can be attained through continued hard work.”

The Chapel Field Lions, which were coached by Mike Lee last season, still have their games posted on the schedule, but head of schools Bill Spanjer, IV, said last week that the Lions don’t expect to field a team this year.