Blue Devil JV Closes Gap with Foes

Huntington’s junior varsity girls’ basketball team enjoyed a satisfying season under first year head coach and former St. Joseph’s University hardcourt star Lanyah Ford.

The Blue Devils were led by sophomores Bryce Gilroy, Khloe Graham, Jaylah Morgan Page, Bella Duke and Izabelle Colato.

Here’s what Ford had to say about the top players:

Bryce Gilory: “She consistently set the standard for our program. Her work ethic, leadership, and competitiveness made everyone around her better.”

Khloe Graham: “She impacted the game is multiple ways; Scoring, defending and rebounding. Her presence was felt every time they stepped on the floor.”

Jaylah Morgan Page: “She showed tremendous growth this season. Her commitment to improving everyday showed.”

Bella Duke: “She displayed wonderful growth and improvement. Her 20 points against Sachem North was a season-high for us. She was dedicated to doing her best daily.”

Izabelle Colato: “She was a difference-maker for us. She guarded the best player every game.”

“Our greatest team accomplishment was the improvement we made from the beginning to the end of the season,” Ford said. “Early in the season, we were losing games by 30-40 points. However, through the consistent effort and player development, we closed that gap. By the end of the season, we were competing closely with the same teams that had previously beaten us by 30-40 points.”

Ford work the team diligently. “The team showed tremendous resilience,” the coach said. “Despite early challenges, they stayed committed, trusted the process and grew stronger every week.”

Ford said that team goals for next year include increasing overall commitment among players, both on and off the court.