Team Bond With Core Returners Will Help Pierson Girls Basketball Team Remain Competitive

Strong team chemistry will help the Pierson/Bridgehampton girls basketball team stay competitive this season.

Though the Whalers lost Riley Roesel to graduation and leading scorer Coco Lohmiller to Long Island Lutheran, as well as several others from last year’s squad, many of the returners boast two or three years of experience, and according to head coach Woody Kneeland, are improving quickly.

“There is just a great feeling with this group,” he said. “Some of the girls have grown a lot since last year, but what’s most important to me is there is a big team element — I’m really excited about that.”

Leading the charge will be returning senior center Lyra Aubry and junior point guard Cali Wilson, who have created a solid bond after starting alongside each other the last two seasons.

“It all starts with Cali,” Kneeland said. “She’s bringing the ball up the court, and she’s definitely showing a lot of leadership.”

Adding to that team concept are returning freshmen Lola Eldridge, a guard, and Skye Smith, a forward.

“It is hard for me to believe that they are still only in ninth grade,” Kneeland said. “They have grown a lot and I think they are taking the lead of the older girls, though, in a weird way, they are the older girls as more veteran players on the team.”

Also back are senior forward Ava Garabedian and junior forward Ani Bedini, and new to the team are a junior, three sophomores and a freshman. Makayla Pinckney is a junior center from Bridgehampton who has been promoted from the junior varsity team she’s played with for the last two seasons.

“She has been around our gym for a while,” Kneeland said. “She has brought some good elements.”

All five of the newcomers, in fact, which include sophomore guards Clio Halweil and Abby Perello, sophomore forward Lily Caplin and freshman guard Ashley Stuckart, have competed with the junior varsity team.

“There is depth to this team,” Kneeland said. “We have had a lot of high-energy practices and a lot of great energy all the way throughout. The whole thing is just sort of clicking for them, and though that can take some time, when it does, it’s great.”

The coach said also new to the team is junior varsity coach Shelly Cottrell, who will be one of Kneeland’s assistants.

“There is a lot more consistency across the board,” he said. “There is a lot of athleticism on the team, and that and the chemistry seems to be working in our favor.”

Kneeland added that while his team is taking it day by day, just recently outscoring Hampton Bays 34-28 in a nonleague contest December 1 and Southampton 43-33 in a nonleague game December 4, he is looking forward to seeing what it’s capable of growing into.

“Obviously, varsity is a different speed, so I think they will be pushed against some teams, but practices have been great and I am excited about the energy right now. I think that’s the most important thing,” Kneeland said. “Each team brings its own identity — we are not the same team that we were last year — but I think if practice translates to games, we are going to be a very competitive team this year. I want them to play together, have some fun and contend. I think, with this team, the rest will take care of itself.”