Pearl River's Scognamiglio Named All-State

Pearl River junior basketball player Christa Scognamiglio is not one to focus on awards, but the accolades keep coming for her.

The New York Sports State Sportswriters Association named her a first-team All-State selection in Class A for the second consecutive year.

"I guess it’s something exciting," Scognamiglio said. "Only a few players get it a year. It’s a nice accomplishment two years in a row, something that makes you feel good about yourself, but it’s just one award and you still have to keep improving. It’s not that big of a deal.

Scognamiglio was also named the player of the year in Rockland County in a vote by the coaches. Teammate Nicole Grossbard, a junior point guard, was voted second-team all-county.

Scognamiglio averaged 19.3 points and 4.5 steals per game this past season for Pearl River, leading the Pirates to the Section 1 Class A championship game, where they lost to Peekskill.

Peekskill junior guard Asia Jackson was named to Class A Player of the Year and joined Scognamiglio on the NYSSCOGS NYS first team, along with senior guard/forward Shelby Fogarty of Pittsford Mendon, junior guard Kallie Banker of Grand Island and senior guard Aquillan Hayes of Wings. Albertus Magnus senior point guard Felicia DaCruz was named to the second team. Nyack senior forward Rachel McNair made the fourth team.

For now, Scognamiglio's focus is on playing for the Phliadelphia Runnin' Rebels AAU basketball team. It is her first season with the Runnin' Rebels, a powerhouse AAU program where most of her teammates are future Division I college players. The Runnin' Rebels went 5-1 this past weekend at the Blue Chip Preseason Challenge at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"It's fun," Scognamiglio said. "This is my second tournament with them. it's a different level of play. More intense. You have to be playing hard at all times. It really pushes you."

"I think we had a very good weekend," said Runnin' Rebels coach Bill McDonough. "Christa played very well. She's playing 60 percent of every game and she's doing great. She's definitely a Division I basketball player."

Scognamiglio has scholarship offers from Manhattan, Fairfield and Lafayette (Pa.). She is hoping to make a decision by July, but left the door open to change her mind. While she is focused on her current team, she can't help looking forward to her senior year at Pearl River with a Pirates team that returns four starters and every key reserve.

"Right now it's all about AAU, which will help me ipmrove a lot and bring me to my next season in high school," Scognamiglio said. "I can't wait to get back to my high school team. AAU is fun, but it's different."