With a strong backcourt and depth, a longer playoff journey should be in store for Calhoun’s boys team.
After a solid 8-4 Conference AA2 regular season, Calhoun lost in the first round of the playoffs in a close encounter with Valley Stream Central. The Merrick program ended up 11-9 but feeling a tad unfulfilled.
The 2025-26 team looks more well-rounded, though still led by its superb backcourt of senior point guard Luca Facciponti and sophomore shooting guard Ashton Pierre-Charles, an All-County honoree as a freshman.
“This team is returning its core but in addition, we will benefit from depth off the bench,’’ head coach Jay Kreutzberger said. “That was missing last year. We didn’t get scoring contributions off the bench.’’
In Facciponti, the Colts are blessed with a high-energy, three-year starter and floor general. Despite being 5-foot-8, he gobbled up 4.5 rebounds while averaging 9 points and 4.5 assists.
“He’s an intense fierce competitor,’’ Kreutzberger said. “He’s learned to lead. It’s his biggest growth in understanding how he has to lead. It’s really what you want in a point guard.’’
It should be an exciting encore season for Pierre-Charles, one of the best 3-point shooters in the county. He averaged 12 points and drained 60 3-pointers as a freshman.
Senior 6-4 forward Amir Ibrahim averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds but is being counted on for more muscle in 2025-26. “We really need his size to rebound and rim protect,’’ Kreutzberger said.
Ali Shazar is a senior 6-3 forward who might crack the starting lineup. Kreutzberger said he hadn’t set the lineup other than his top 3 – Facciponti, Pierre-Charles, Ibrahim.
Junior Alec Bloch is the backup point guard after being starting point guard for the JV the past two years. The coaching staff loves his vision and athleticism.
Jacob Graber is senior forward who played sparingly last season but being looked upon as a significant contributor off the bench. Senior Brandon Meyers is a nice pure shooter and will get minutes. Junior Will Hutchinson will vie for playing time.
For two straight seasons, the Calhoun girls missed out on a playoff berth by one game. Last season, the Colts’ late-season overtime loss to Sewanhaka cost them the postseason. Head coach Dan Catapano thinks it’s time to return to the playoffs. Only one starter was lost to graduation from Calhoun’s 9-11 team.
“There’s a core of kids who have been in the program for three, four,’’ said Catapano, in his sixth season. “A couple of them have been on the losing side of making the playoffs with a difference of a game. They’re definitely motivated to get back to winning. The hope is to be competitive and put ourselves in position to be able to extend our season.’’
The engine of the Colts’ fast-paced attack is senior combo guard Kaitlyn DiPaola – on varsity since freshman year. DiPaola was its leading scorer at 12 points per game. She guards the other team’s top player and averaged 3 steals.
Continued improvement from freshman Lia Biscardi will also be key. Biscardi was the point guard as a freshman, a facilitator with 3-point range. “Lia stepped up to a huge role last year,’’ Catapano said.
A 5-10 power forward, junior Angelica Kasimatis handles the ball well and is a 3-point threat. She can play all five positions and has been on varsity since 8th grade, averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds in 2024-25.
Senior Ruth Small started in the back half of the year. Small came on strong after missing her sophomore year. “She’s very athletic, sees the court well and adds grit to the lineup,’’ Catapano said.
For backcourt depth, senior Julia Kopelman returns after missing last season as she tore her ACL during 2024 training camp.
To boost the perimeter shooting, junior Brianna Witt will help tremendously. Chloe Coppola and Laney McGrath will each hold a role.
Calhoun has good outside shooters but the best part of the team is its pace. “I think we’ll transition real well, getting the ball out and running the floor,’’ Catapano said.
Dec. 13: Jericho, 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 16: Kennedy, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 19: @ New Hyde Park, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 5: @ MacArthur, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 7: Long Beach, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 10: @ G.N. South, 12:00 p.m.
Jan. 23: @ Jericho, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 27: @ Kennedy, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 30: New Hyde Park, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 2: MacArthur, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 5: @ Long Beach, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 11: G.N. South, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 13: @ Jericho, 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 16: @ Kennedy, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 18: New Hyde Park, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 5: @ MacArthur, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 8: Long Beach, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 15: @ G.N. South, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 23: @ Jericho, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 27: @ Kennedy, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 30: New Hyde Park, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 2: @ MacArthur, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 5: Long Beach, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 11: @ G.N. South, 6:45 p.m.
