May 23, 2023
On Monday night the girls basketball teams had their postseason banquet and awards ceremony.
Through the generosity of the Booster Club, the varsity girls received their championship plaques along with championship shirts, letter awards and pins. The JV girls received their certificates as well.
First up was Coach Chris Devine who presented the JV team. He mentioned how hard they worked and how close they had all become through the course of the season.
Coach Newcomb first recognized this year’s full time team manager, senior Sam Woodward. “Sam helped our team out from day 1 and was with us for the long haul of the season, always there to lend a helping hand in practices to game days, teaching the 2 younger managers how to use the clock or be amazed at how much junk food they consumed in less than a 2 hour period.”
Coach Newcomb then ran through the highlights of the season. She said,” This season for the varsity team was once again one of the top in the state for any team in all divisions going 18-2 in the regular season and making it all the way back to the Final Four before falling short of another State Championship appearance and with a final record of 21-3.” She also said that even though they didn’t start the season ranked in the Globe top 20, they finished ranked 11th in the state. “That to me shows once again about the grit and determination of these players and proving their worth and getting the job done day in and day out. It’s not how you start but how you finish.”
Coach Newcomb also explained that the varsity schedule was one of the toughest we could have put together and after 2 losses in Dec (to Div 1 powerhouses) the team never lost a regular season game again and went on a 17 game win streak! During that streak they only gave up 50 points 2x which again came against 2 upper Division teams and we held teams to under 40 points 13 of those 17 games and for 7 straight games we scored 60+ points. Coach also said, “Nothing was more impressive than giving Norwell their worst home loss in years and our dazzling comeback win in the Elite 8 vs Dover Sherborn in which we only gave up 10 points in the entire 2nd half.”
About the heart of the team she said, “This team from top to bottom was not perfect in any way but so many teams could not compare to how prepared they were and what they were willing to do for eachother. Throughout the season we had 5 different players be a leading scorer during a game and multiple people had to play out of position offensively or defensively for the greater good of the team. They took on roles in practice and games depending on match ups and how to exploit the other team. Not many teams could figure us out offensively or defensively and that was due to how diverse our team became. We could have many different players play point guard, throw a number of you in the post or have you come of a screen to be a shooter, no matter what you were supposed to do in that play–you most likely did it and didn’t matter who got the credit as long as you saw those points go up on the scoreboard for Rockland.”
Coach Newcomb then called up the varsity players by class. Calling up the seniors she told the audience about their accomplishments in the four years they spent in the program, not the least of which was going 74-14 in those 3 and a half years winning 85% of their games, As freshmen they were a part of the last D3 So. Sectional title, beating 11X champion Archbishop Williams in 2020. They went to the State Finals last year and made Final Four appearances this year and last. They never lost to a team ranked lower than they were and finished in the Globe top 20 all three of the full seasons. As Coach Newcomb said they were “one of the most feared teams that ever walked into a gym. No team wanted to face Rockland and that was because of a legacy” they “built and bought into.”
Another interesting fact about this class is that every one of them is a multi-sport athlete. They have competed in cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse and ice skating.
Next year they will all be in different places-except Charlie and MK who will not only be attending Roger Williams together but they will be roommates. Sydney will be at RPI continuing her academic and athletic career playing basketball. Maddy will be at Suffolk and is considering playing. And Emma will be playing soccer and killing it at Hofstra.
Lastly, Coach Newcomb emphasized the role of their parents in not only supporting their daughters but also the program. She said that have been outstanding throughout the years.
And with that she congratulated and introduced for the last time, the Class of 2023:
MK Leoncavallo, Emma Cameron, Charlie Kelleher, Sydney Blaney and Maddy Hermenau.
Another highlight of the night was the “Superb Superlatives” that Cailey Kelleher, Anna Santos and Molly Lucas put together. Some of those included Maggie Elie, Taylor Swift look-alike, Sydney Blaney, Michael Jordan pose, and MK Leoncavallo’s best faces.
Here’s some photos from the night.
RHS Girls Basketball 