As winter quickly approaches there is only one thing to think about, and that is the West Haven Girls Basketball season. After losing key starters Amani Abuhatab, Kassidy Carrano, and Dealyce Howard, now room has opened for new players to step up and fill the roles of their former captains.
Coach Jessica Moriarty said it can be anyone stepping up, not just this year’s captains.
“I think this year we’re more balanced and have a lot of talent across the board,” Moriarty said. “It can be somebody different stepping up every night.”
The Blue Devils finished last year’s season with a record of 18-6. The team was able to qualify for both the SCC tournament and States.
The Devils made it all the way to the SCC Semi-finals where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the No. 1 Hamden Dragons.
The Dragons went on to win the SCC Tournament, beating No. 2 Sacred Heart by a score of 70-57, giving the Dragons their fourth title in the last five years.
Next up for the Devils were States, and after their first-round victory, they hit the road for a long drive up north to play Enfield.
In the heated back and forth matchup, the Devils lost, which meant no quarter finals. Just like that, the 2023 season was over for the Girls Basketball Team, all they could do was start preparing for next season.
Fast forward to November 2023: the girls are led by new senior captains Isabella Fiorillo and Arianna Titus. The team has returned to training, and they are looking like they’re in great shape for the upcoming season.
I think this year we’re more balanced and have a lot of talent across the board. It can be somebody different stepping up every night.”
— Coach Jessica Moriarty
Fiorillo said she is anticipating a different style of play for the team this year.
“With losing three of our starters, obviously we are going to have to make some changes,” Fiorillo said. “We are going to have to be a different kind of team.”
During the offseason the team has put in a ton of work at practice, in the weight room, and in the fall league.
The team has open-gym workouts two to three times a week, as well as weight lifting with football defensive coordinator Tom Unger two times a week. The team also plays in a fall league currently.
Moriarty said that she is both confident and excited for the season.
“I truly think that we can be very successful,” Moriarty said. “We have been working extremely hard this offseason to ensure a good season.”
It seems that there is a ton of confidence for this year’s squad, even Captain Fiorillo can agree.
“We are going to be better than people expect,” Fiorillo said.
This new style of play, and confidence will be revealed at the Blue Devils home season opener on Dec. 13 against Newtown.
