Youth must step up for Williamsville North
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North senior Jill Piaggione will see playing time at guard. Photo by Joe Eberle

Williamsville North's girls basketball team was young last year but with leading scorer Chantae Miller out for the season, the Lady Spartans' youth will have to make even more of an impact if the team is to have success.

Miller, a junior, is recovering from surgery to repair torn ligaments in an ankle. The injury occurred during field hockey. Miller, who would have been the starting shooting guard this season, was a ECIC Division I First Team selection last year.

"It's definitely a loss plus she's a leader," said North coach Mike DelValle. "She's physically and mentally tough."

DelValle's team is young as seven of the ten remaining players are underclassmen. Two are eighth graders - shooting guard Corrin Genovese, Miller's would-be replacement, and guard/forward Allie Ahern.

Genovese broke a finger on her non-shooting hand and hasn't been cleared to practice as of this writing. Genovese, who played last year on modified, should return in a couple of weeks.

Sophomore Caitlin Butler can play the two-spot and will start at the point in place of speedy and quick sophomore Maddi Genovese, Corrin's older sister, who is recovering from a leg injury.

Other players who will see significant playing time are senior guard Jill Piaggione, junior guard/forward Leslie Ahern and sophomore speedy forwards Katie Kubala and Megan Klansky, both 5-foot-11.

DelValle said Piaggione brings senior leadership and Ahern has speed and toughness. Kubala started at center as a freshman. Kubala and Klansky are interchangeable at forward, DelValle said.

Piaggione, Ahern and Kaitlyn McNally are team captains.

Freshman forward Emily Helwig rounds out the team.

DelValle said his team will have to rely on its speed and quickness to play with teams.

"I want them to never quit and keep improving every game," he added. "They should improve every game and become a factor. We're young but talented. We may surprise people who think because we're young we're an easy mark. It's just a question of how much the inexperience will hurt us late in games when it's close."

North finished 8-13 last year. This season, DelValle said Jamestown and Lancaster are the clear cut first and second best teams in ECIC I.

"Other than them, on any given day, one can beat the other," said DelValle.
    North 2006-07 Schedule
11-29 at Jamestown .... 7:30 p.m.
12-1 at Ken. East Tourn. vs. Starpoint
        ................................... 6 p.m.
12-2 at Ken. East Tourn. vs. North
Tonawanda or Ken. East .... TBA
12-5 Frontier................. 7:30 p.m.
12-8 at Clarence........... 7:30 p.m.
12-12 at Orchard Park   7:30 p.m.
12-14 W.S. West   ........... 7:30 p.m.
12-18 Holy Angels ....... 7:30 p.m.
12-21 at Sweet Home   . 7:30 p.m.
12-28   at   Will.   East   Tourn.   vs.
South .................................. 6 p.m.
12-29 at Will. East Tourn. vs. East
or Sweet Home (4 p.m. - consolation,
        6 p.m. - finals)
1-4 Orchard Park ......... 7:30 p.m.
1-6 Maryvale ................. 1:30 p.m.
1-9 Lancaster   ............... 7:30 p.m.
1-18 at Frontier   ........... 7:30 p.m.
1-26 Clarence ............... 7:30 p.m.
1-29 Jamestown ........... 7:30 p.m.
2-1 at W.S. West ........... 7:30 p.m.
2-6 Sweet Home .......... 7:30 p.m.
2-13 at Lancaster ......... 7:30 p.m.