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Schedule challenges early
The schedule is not appetizing for the Woodstock Academy girls’ basketball team to the start the 2019-20 season.
The Centaurs open at home, but they do so against Class LL runnerup last season and 2017 state champion, New London, Dec. 20.
“I haven’t seen the preseason rankings yet, but I have to assume that (the Whalers) will be No. 1 or 2 in the state, Norwalk is probably No. 1 and they will likely be No. 2. We’re starting with the best of the best so no better way to get things rolling fast,” said Centaurs coach Will Fleeton.
The Centaurs will travel to Fitch, East Lyme, and Waterford and after the Stonington game at home in January, have another game with the Whalers at New London.
Woodstock Academy senior Rachel Lambert understands what lies ahead.
The Centaurs have only four seniors. In addition to Lambert, Katie Papp, Hallie Saracina and Kayla Gaudreau return.
The Centaurs did lose some key players to graduation from their 10-12 seaso so they're rebuilding.n a year ago.
Guards will include senior Hallie Saracina, juniors Peyton Saracina and Alexa Pechie, and freshmen Leila McKinnon and Amanda Currie.Gaudreau, junior Kaitlin Birlin and sophomore Aurissa Boardman will see action both in the front . Papp and Lambert are slated to be up front.
Papp returns as the leading scorer at 7.8 points per game last year, Gaudreau finished with 6.8 points per game. No one else scored more than two points per game. “At Woodstock Academy, I don’t need 15 points a game from anyone. I think, collectively as a group, we all have to chip in and score. But most of the state knows that we’re going to defend first and pick up the pieces after that,” Fleeton said.
He likes the work ethic he has seen early on although some of the progression of practices was affected a bit when his first two were canceled because of snow.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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