With the start of the 2023-24 season just around the corner, the Joel Barlow High girls varsity basketball team will count on players from all classes as it prepares to take on the competition.
In addition to several returning players who already have varsity experience, the Falcons have a few younger ones who will contribute on the court this season. Time will tell how soon they can find the right combination.
“I really like how hard the girls have been working so far,” said 16th-year head coach Joe Carollo, whose team started practice on Nov. 27. “I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Having about 17 girls in the program (varsity and JV) this season, the Falcons will be slightly smaller in terms of numbers. They should still have some depth at every position.
“They all are putting in good effort,” said Carollo. “They’re all committed, which as a coach that’s all you can ask for.”
In any case, the Falcons are out to improve upon their performance from last season. Despite being a mature team, they finished with a 5-15 overall record, yet not due to lack of effort.
“We just ran into some good teams,” said Carollo. “Sometimes we didn’t make enough plays in certain games. But it was one of the most fun groups I’ve ever gotten to coach here. I was grateful for them for being all in on helping younger kids get better, and they gave it all they had on the court.”
Barlow graduated seven seniors since then, including former captains Katherine Czerkawski, Marin Kalamaris and Julia Tartaglia. The former two were forwards, and the latter was a guard.
Also gone are former guards Hannah Ashgar, Charlotte Beihl and Emily Green; and former forward Sophia Ashgar.
Among the returning varsity players this season are senior captains Mackenzie Sickinger and Keira Gillon. The former will be at center, and the latter will play forward.
Unfortunately, senior captain Elyssa Kalamaris will be sidelined with an ACL injury she suffered during lacrosse season. She led the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks.
“Even though she won’t be able to play for us, she understands the game and sees the game sometimes like a coach would,” said Carollo. “She’s actually helping to coach an eighth-grade travel team right now.”
Several juniors are also back, including guards Agnes Davis and Allie Ogden and utility player Sarah Ashgar. From the sophomore class is Mia Tartaglia, who started at point guard last year and led the team in assists and steals.
Classmate Ava Gillen will be a backup center. Carollo also expects Moran Ross to see varsity contribution as well.
“She’s a really good shooter,” he said. “She’ll see some varsity time as well.”
A few freshmen will also make an impact on the program. Once again the Falcons will have a set of twins, Avery and Kinsley Vanderburg.
One area the Falcons hope to see improvement in is scoring, and having more players step up in this respect. Only three times did they score more than 40 points in a game last season.
“I’m hoping that we can clean that up this year,” said Carollo. “I think we’re going to be good again defensively, which is something we like to hang our hats on.”
The Falcons open the season on Monday when they visit Darien at 5:30 p.m.
