The Johnston girls’ basketball team returns nearly all of its components from last year, and it will have less to contend with in the newly realigned Division II.
Moses Brown, St. Ray’s and Cumberland, the top three teams in Division II-North in 2015-16, all moved up to Division I. The Panthers, who posted an 8-10 record, are the second-best squad remaining in the subdivision.
They’re young, and with junior Jordan Moretti (17.6 points per game) leading the way, D-II could be theirs for the taking.
“We’re excited,” Johnston head coach Chris Corsinetti said. “[Moretti’s] taken on that role of being a leader. Physically, she’s getting stronger. She’s done a great job in the offseason of getting herself faster and stronger. She took the volleyball season off to get ready for basketball.”
Moretti comes back for her third year as one of the division’s most dynamic scorers. She was just shy of 40 3-pointers last season and shot 65 percent from the charity stripe. Complementing her will be fellow captains Lauren Civetti, a junior, and lone senior Hillary Rogers.
“The main thing is the respect that these kids have for the other players and that the other players have for them,” Corsinetti said of his captains. “They’re just very nice kids. It makes for a great environment around practice, and bus rides, and games. Respect is the main thing these kids give and get from one another.”
Johnston’s youth should be on full display in 2016. Corsinetti said he has been impressed with sophomores Sophia DaCosta and Amelia Moore, while freshman Caroline Howe could notch some minutes as well with her size.
Sophomores Gabriella DiRaimo and Bianca Robbins will figure into the lineup as well. Corsinetti said Robbins will likely get time at the power forward position with her length and agility.
As for center, that position is “up for grabs.”
“Hillary is an option along with Sophie Taylor and Amelia,” Corsinetti said. “Again, Caroline Howe could come in there and steal that spot.”
The greatest competition for Johnston in D-II North will be Juanita Sanchez, which went 12-6 last season while upsetting top-seeded Cranston East in the postseason. Mount Saint Charles and Tolman, two of the best squads out of D-III, will also set up shop in the subdivision.
The new realignment will dictate that Johnston plays every team in D-II, regardless of subdivision, once this season. That familiarity can benefit the fledging Panthers down the stretch.
“I think it’s a good concept just for the fact that it’s good to have basketball experience against the teams you’re going to see in the future rather than going in blindly,” Corsinetti said. “It’s good to just see other teams in general rather than the teams you see in your division. The downside is you take away from the home-and-away rivalry of Scituate and Ponaganset, but otherwise it’s a good change.”
The Panthers ring in the campaign tonight at home with an Injury Fund contest against Moses Brown at 7 p.m. They will travel to Ponaganset for the Pink Madness Classic, during which they will face Ponaganset and Burrillville, this weekend before opening league play at Mount Saint Charles on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
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