Sports

Scognamiglio Sisters Must Shine for Pearl River Basketball

Pearl River's Scognamiglios, two-time all-state selection and new starting point guard Marissa, will play key roles for a girls basketball team trying to make another deep playoff run.

Everybody knows about Pearl River senior basketball player Christa Scognamiglio.

The resume is hard to miss. She is a two-time all-state selection who has already signed to play Division I college basketball for Fairfield. She is a versatile, 5-foot-9 player who can play every position and spark Pearl River's aggressive defense.

She may be the biggest reason the Pirates are among the favorites in Section 1 this season. She just isn't the only Scognamiglio whose play will be vital to the team's success.

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Her sister, junior Marissa Scognamiglio, would have been a key player for Pearl River this season after emerging as an impact player off the bench in 2010-11. Then all-section senior point guard Nicole Grossbard was lost for the season to a knee injury.

Scognamiglio will move over from shooting guard to the point, a position she last played regularly as an eighth-grader on the junior varsity.

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"(She is) stepping into a much bigger role this year," said Pearl River Head Coach Lorraine Moylan. "This year she is stepping into big shoes in one sense, but she's very confident in her ability and I think she'll do well. She's a determined kid."

"I'm kind of nervous and excited to be the point guard," Marissa Scognamiglio said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Christa Scognamiglio also expressed her confidence in her sister's ability.

"To be honest, she's one of the people I trust the most on the court, when I have to get someone the ball," Christa Scognamiglio said.

One thing that helps is both enjoy the up-tempo style that Moylan prefers.

"I've always liked to do that," Marissa Scognamiglio said. "I always like to run up and down."

Another junior, Amanda DeCourcey, will also be an option at point guard.

"We have two juniors who can pick that up," Moylan said. "The kids know they all need to step up. Everybody has to do their role and sometimes more."

That includes two senior returning starters, sharpshooter Alison Cook and defensive standout Kerry Sullivan.

"You can't forget Kerry Sullivan," Moylan said. "She's a defensive guru inside and outside with her quickness and hustle."

The new starter up front will be Christy Carty, who saw time as a reserve at forward last season.

"She has been playing very well for us," Moylan said. "She can play inside for us."

Moylan said some younger players will have to step in off the bench. That said, the Pirates' strength is likely the three returning starters from the team that went 20-2 and reached the section championship game a year ago.

Christa Scognamiglio has talked about finishing strong and has not changed that goal even without her long-time teammate Grossbard.

"With Nicole gone, I have to step up," she said. "I think everyone is going to be stepping up."

Pearl River will get its first test 11 a.m. Saturday against Mount Vernon in the Queens of the Court Tournament in White Plains.


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