Nassau girls: Defending champs favored again

Will it be a whole new ballgame in Nassau, as the county converts from ability-based to enrollment-based leagues this season? Not if the returning county champions have anything to say about it.

Baldwin, the defending county champ, returns eight players, including three starters. Junior point guard Alex Hampton and senior guard Courtney Jackson were All-County selections last year. Senior forward Katie Greene is a two-year captain and the inside presence for the Bruins.

Massapequa is a predominately young team returning five players, one of whom is a starter. Sophomore point guard Danielle Doherty will run the floor in her third varsity season.

Farmingdale is an experienced and deep squad with 11 players returning, including the entire starting five. Senior shooting guard Kelly McPartland and senior forward Kyra Ochwat were All-County and sophomore guards Alexis Panariello and Nadine Hadnagy were All-Conference selections for the Dalers.

MacArthur returns 10 players but is an unseasoned squad. Sophomore guard Jena Cozza is the lone returning starter for the Generals.

Hicksville brings back six players including three starters but an injury has already hurt the Comets as Michelle Filangieri suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Sophomore forward Caitlyn Garger and senior point guard Marissa Mertens, a three-year varsity player, will lead the way.

Uniondale is a young team led by its lone senior, guard Myajha Elston, and sophomore guard Aliyah McDonald.

Defending Long Island champion Division is the favorite with seven returning players, including three starters. Senior point guard Taylor Malings, senior shooting guard Julie Ballantyne and senior small forward Christina Rea will lead the Blue Dragons. Division is currently dealing with injuries and is not expected to be fully healthy until after the holiday break, according to coach Steve Kissane.

Garden City has nine players back in the fold, including five of its top seven players. Senior Barbara Sullivan, who will attend Notre Dame for lacrosse, averaged a double-double (16-plus ppg, 10-plus rpg) and will lead the Trojans. Junior forward Christina Mangels and junior guard Kim Ryan, who led Long Island in three pointers last season, also return as well.

Lynbrook has two returning starters and some youth which will contribute. Junior point guard Brooke Gerstman and junior forward Danielle Amaya lead the way and freshman Jen Fay will be called upon to produce offensively.

South Side has seven players returning, including four starters. Senior guard Lauren Lopresti, senior center Megan Lonergan, senior forward Christina Merrifield and junior guard Caitlin Wallace are all back for the Cyclones under first-year coach Katelyn Dunn.

New Hyde Park has six players back, including seniors Ciara McCullagh, an All-County guard, and Maria Katsoulis, an All-Conference forward. The Gladiators will look to play an up-tempo game and push the pace offensively, according to coach Hugh Flaherty.

Wantagh returns six players. A pair of senior starters, guard April Iannetta and forward Paula Schmidt, will lead a Warriors squad which is without leading scorer, Kaleigh Craig, because of injury.

Carle Place returns four starters and is the favorite thanks to outside shooting threat senior guard Dana McLaughlin. Senior forward Emily Mullin and junior center Jill Flecker, who nearly averaged a double-double last season, will be strong on the inside for the Frogs.

Oyster Bay has five returning players with two experienced starters. Senior guard Jen Capozzoli, a four-year varsity player, and senior forward Joshlyn Grant, a five-year varsity player, lead the way.

Locust Valley, the defending county champion, has a lot of holes to fill without any senior leadership and just one returning starter. Junior forward Natasha Jahchan will be called upon to lead a defensive-minded team looking to play a half-court style.

East Rockaway has four players coming back but no starters. Junior guard Shannon Pujol, a three-year varsity player, will lead a young and inexperienced squad.

Friends Academy, the lone Class C school in Nassau, has 10 players back, including four starters. Senior shooting guard Reoni Mapp, a four-year starter, freshman point guard Kristina Kim and sophomore forward Marissa Reyes will lead the Quakers.