Girls Varsity Basketball: Season Outlook

The 2021-22 season was almost a perfect one for St. Luke’s girls basketball. The Storm was 26-0 heading into the New New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship game but fell 75-76 in overtime to the No.1 seed, Brooks School.

 

This year’s goal is to return to the NEPSAC final and reverse the 2021-22 result.

 

Head Coach Matt Ward returns, welcoming back a number of last year’s squad.

 

Ward knows that captains Mackenzie Nelson ’23, 2022 Connecticut Player of the Year, and Ava Sollene ’23 will drive the group forward: “They are vocal captains who lead by example and play really hard. They demand a lot of themselves and each other. Our entire senior class knows what to expect. We need them to keep the team focused and playing hard, and the rest will take care of itself.”

 

The team didn’t have much time to prepare for the season since many members of the squad were playing fall sports during the preseason. However, Ward has been thrilled with how practices have gone so far: “We don't have a long preseason, so we have been focused on building our endurance and developing concepts, systems, and how we want to play. So far, it is going really well. Having eight returning players has helped to speed up the process.”

 

The Storm has opened with wins against Taft School, Holy Child School, Greenwich Academy, and Berkshire School, moving to 4-0. The team travels to the St. George’s tournament on Friday, Dec. 16, where they will play three games in two days, competing against St. George’s School and Governor's Academy on Friday, before facing Beaver Country Day School on Saturday, Dec. 17.

 

Following that tournament, GVBB will participate in the Shooting Touch Tournament at Noble and Greenough School on Dec. 30 and 31, when they will face Rivers School, Tilton School, and Noble and Greenough School. Ward expects his team to be challenged: “Our schedule is extremely difficult. We play several AA schools early. We will also play the top teams in A, B, and C. The players wanted to be challenged, and I think they will be.”

 

Ward has been impressed with how his squad started the season and is excited to see how far the team will go: “Our starting five of Mackenzie, Ava, Aidan Panian ’23, Brielle Renwick ’23, and Camdyn Nelson ’25 have been really good so far. They're working well together. Emma Sollenne ‘25 has also stood out and will be key for us. I have also been really pleased with Kaya Weiskopf '24 and Kathleen Coffey '24. Kaya and Kathleen are new to the team and bring an important skill set. Kaya was an All FCIAC and All State player at Ridgefield High School. She has a good feel for the game, can shoot really well, and plays hard. Kathleen will be a critical player off the bench for us, too. Her ability to shoot the three and defend at a high level will be key.”

 

St. Luke’s girls basketball has set an extremely high standard during the last few years, and Ward expects this year to be no different: “As a team, I know we want to win FAAs again and get back to the NEPSAC Championship. It will be a long road, but we are ready. Our defense is what matters most to me. This could be the best defensive team in my seven years at St. Luke’s. I also want us to compete in every position. Play hard, stay focused, and work together.”