Experience, depth key Rocks

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The girls return most of team from the winter season (3-4) and boast seven seniors and three juniors on the 12-player roster. Just like their boy counterparts, the Rocks are now a Conference B team and are leaning on experience and an improved defense to make the playoffs.

“I am hopeful that it’s going to all come together for them,” head coach Cheri Poland said. “Our defense is definitely a strong suit. That’s been our focus. I feel like we’re going to win our games through the defense.”

Katy Howard is responsible for guarding the other team’s best player and had some big games on that end of the floor for the Rocks last season, according to Poland.

Poland is hoping a solid defense will lead to more fast break opportunities on offense, where there is plenty of talent in seniors Riley O’Hagan (11 ppg last season), Howard (8.4) and Theresa Lynch (7). O’Hagan is starting her fourth year on varsity and will be the “go-to girl” on both offense and the leadership department.

“I definitely noticed more confidence in her,” Poland said of O’Hagan’s career. “She definitely has become more vocal and leading them and really creating things on offense.”

Emma Poland will quarterback the offense at the point and is another scoring threat with three double-digit point games last winter. The 6-foot sophomore can also come up with the key block on defense. Eighth-grader Maya Motherway is being groomed as the future point guard who will collect plenty of minutes this season.

Senior Mimi Bilardello is another dual threat on defense and beyond the 3-point arc on offense. Newcomer Keira O’Neill is a swingman who will be counted on for rebounding and scoring and junior Julia Passanisi is expected to provide a spark on the floor with her aggressiveness.