Windham varsity girls’ basketball looks strong for upcoming season

By Matt Pascarella

The start of the varsity girls’ basketball regular season is just a week away and Windham High is in position to be a contender with experienced returning players and new additions making WHS tough to beat.

Windham sophomore Mackenzie Delewski goes in for a
layup during the prep girls' basketball tryout session
on Monday, Nov. 18 at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“I think our goal is to work together and play as a team and I feel like already with this first tryout that we’ve had, I think we are already achieving that goal,” said Windham junior Addison Caiazzo. “I’m excited to see how the season goes. Our dynamic and team bonding (from last year can be a positive this year), because we only lost one senior last year, so I think just keeping that bond and bringing it over to this year.”

The team focus this year is to bring in as much positive energy to everything the team works on in practice and to translate that positivity to bring high energy into their games.

“We are excited to start the season, with a team that is mixed with some veteran players as well as some new additions to the roster that are going to step into some big roles in a major way,” said Windham varsity girls’ basketball coach Brody Artes. “Our overall goal is always to win a state championship, but the emphasis will be playing our best basketball in February. Marked improvement from November to February is something we always strive for.”

Artes and his coaching staff want players to improve individually each day by working hard in practice, recognizing their strengths and how they can use those strengths to contribute to the team’s success, and to be the best version of themselves during the playoffs.

“I’m really going to focus on being positive with my teammates, especially with it being such a younger team,” said Windham senior Stella Jarvais. “I’m working to be more positive and more team-oriented when it comes to practices and having high energy and being inclusive with everyone. Last year it was ... a growing year for our team. At the end of the year, we started to learn our new offense, so I think working through the summer and being able to incorporate it now in the early season, I think we’re going to be able to get it down and run it continuously. Obviously to make it to the tournament is a goal; making it there, and just having a fun last year with the people that I love.”

Windham will continue to be a strong defensive team. The overall size and strength of their players will be a significant benefit this season. Jarvais and sophomore Mackenzie Delewski will lead the way with both players being great defenders and a significant threat offensively. Junior Marley Jarvais will be a defensive specialist for Windham, as a very adaptable player who can guard all five positions.

“I will approach the upcoming season with a positive and a determined mindset,” said Delewski. “Last year we were a very young team that lost to Bangor early in playoffs by just a few buckets, I feel like this year we can go much farther as long as we work hard and fine tune our skills. Last year I learned what it takes to be a varsity athlete; it meant being a smarter player because I was up against older girls, and it also meant learning new plays and how the team works together. My goals for this year include our team making it to the Civic Center and trying our best in each and every one of our games.”

The regular season opens for Windham at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 against Lewiston at home. <