Blue Devil Girls’ Basketball Captures Post-Season Honors
After winning its third consecutive league title for the first time ever, it was time to celebrate for the Huntington High School girls’ basketball team.
Coached by Mike Kaplan and Marissa Kaplan, the Blue Devils were honored for their team and individual achievements before a crowd of 800 at the Suffolk County Girls’ Basketball Coaches Association’s annual awards dinner at Villa Lombardi in Holbrook. Huntington was recognized as the Suffolk League III co-champions and five players captured post-season awards.
In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, especially after moving into a higher league, the Blue Devils surprised many basketball prognosticators by compiling a 13-1 league mark and going 16-4 overall, including a first round playoff victory over Half Hollow Hills West.
Four-year varsity players Brooke Baade and Katie Reilly stepped into leading roles on the team and Taylor Moreno returned to the court after a two year absence to provide muscle under the basket. The three seniors were joined by sophomore Alex Heuwetter, who has developed into one of the top players in the league and juniors Emma Petrizzi and Anna Gulizio to form a potent starting lineup.
Junior Tara Wilson and sophomore Katie Seccafico also saw plenty of playing time along with juniors Torre Palmer and Shannon Maloney, sophomore Niamh Condon and eighth graders Megan Byrnes, Abigail Maichin and Synclair Taylor.
Reilly and Moreno were named to the All-League, All-Conference and All-County teams. Baade and Heuwetter were selected as All-League and All-Conference. Maichin captured the Suffolk League III Rookie of the Year Award.
Most of the players on the team, along with their parents, were on hand at the county awards dinner to pick up the league championship plaque. “I am very proud of the team,” said Mike Kaplan, who completed his sixth season as Huntington’s head coach. “Winning the league championship for the third consecutive season is a great accomplishment and is not an easy thing to do.”
The team was captained by Reilly, Moreno and Baade. “Katie, Taylor and Brooke were unbelievable leaders and role models for the team,” Mike Kaplan said.
Reilly and Baade have been mainstays in the program for as long as anyone can remember. Moreno played as a freshman before taking off the next two seasons. She won the Suffolk Division II indoor long jump championship as a junior before returning to the basketball court this past winter and reemerging at the highest level of play.
“I have had the privilege of coaching Katie, Brooke and Taylor in numerous sports since the seventh grade,” said Marissa Kaplan about team’s seniors. “All three girls have contributed to the success of this program. They made it their mission to make history. They led by example on and off the court. They made sure the future Lady Blue Devils learned the essential tools necessary to be able to keep the Huntington basketball tradition going. Each one of them had their own unique way of making a lasting impact.”
The 5’4 Reilly averaged 11 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. She has helped pace Huntington to four straight years of playoff appearances and compiled a 41-1 record in league games over the past three seasons.
“Katie’s approachability and positive encouragement allowed for her to transfer her knowledge of the game to her teammates in a productive way that gave them confidence,” Marissa Kaplan said. Reilly, who had a season-high 21 points against North Babylon on December 15, is headed to Princeton University in the fall to play lacrosse.
The 5’7 Moreno averaged 12 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. She had a season-high 22 points against Half Hollow Hills West on December 30.
“Taylor’s relentless work ethic demonstrated outstanding courage and showed her desire to get better every day,” Marissa Kaplan said. Moreno has been accepted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and will be playing on the lacrosse team there.
“It was an honor to be named All-Conference and All-County,” Moreno said. “Coming back to basketball was a great decision and I’m glad that I had the chance to top off my senior year with such a great group of people.”
Baade rebounded from early season knee surgery to lead the Blue Devils with 29 three-point baskets. The 5’8 teenager averaged nine points and gave Huntington everything she could muster.
“Brooke’s game experience and attention to detail gave her teammates an immeasurable comfort level and helped them to be successful,” Marissa Kaplan said. The senior had a season-high 19 points in a double overtime, 74-67 playoff victory over Hills West on February 12.
“It was a great way to end my senior year,” Baade said. “The team definitely improved greatly and grew throughout the season. I was happy to receive All-League and All-Conference honors.”
The 5’9 Heuwetter showed that she is going to be a very special player. The sophomore averaged 13 points and led the team from the free throw line with 47 shots made. She had a season-high 25 points against Centereach on January 5.
Heuwetter has shown dedication to her craft and a willingness to train in and out of season to bring her game to a higher level. Her 216 points this past winter led the Blue Devil offense and she was third on the team with 17 three-pointers.
Maichin came off the bench to repeatedly spark the Blue Devils when they needed it. Despite being an eighth grader, she aptly handled the challenge of squaring off against much more experienced players and notched many strategically important baskets, rebounds and blocks. The Rookie of the Year Award was an acknowledgement of her current talent and future promise.
With 16 wins, Huntington was one of Suffolk’s most successful squads. The coaching staff was bolstered by Russ Tietjen, who served as the team’s volunteer assistant coach.
“This team was a true family in every sense of the word,” Marissa Kaplan said. “They guided, helped and valued each other tremendously. I’m honored to have coached them. Although it’s always sad when your players graduate, I look forward to all their future success.”
Looking ahead to next winter, the coaching staff sees good times. “Our underclassmen were like sponges and followed leadership well,” said Mike Kaplan about this past season. “We have a promising future ahead.”