By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

Head coach Mr. Young has high expectations for this year’s girls basketball season.

So far, the girls are living up to those expectations. The Eagles opened their season with a 55-41 win against Branford and a 59-53 win against Sacred Heart, making them 2-0 to start the year.

“We really want to make it states, which is one of our biggest goals,” said junior captain Jessica Centore. “But it’s also important that we work together really well and beat teams that think we won’t win because of our previous record.”

Making it to states is one of the main goals for the girls this year, and they are working to get the eight wins necessary to make it there. After finishing one win short of states a year ago, Young believes that this could be their year.

“The team is looking good, they work hard and they have good chemistry,” Young said.

The key players for Law this year are junior captains Erin Saley, Laura Dulin, Kailee Frank, and Centore, as well as juniors Paige Szygiel and Brooke Hiatt and senior Amanda Leone.

Dulin was named to the New Haven Register’s Preseason Top 25 Players in the Area list. Centore is the team’s leading scorer through the first two games and was named GameTimeCT’s Star of the Day after scoring 15 points against Sacred Heart.

The four junior captains have made it a point to set the tone for this season. The biggest games for the Eagles this season will be against Hillhouse, Hand, Guilford, and rival Foran.

One major focus of the team this year is to get better every day at practice. In order to have the right mindset, Young has been focusing on working hard during daily practices.

“Practices are fun, and practices are difficult so that when we play the games the games are easier,” Young said. “Preparation is making sure that whatever team we are playing, we know exactly what we’re doing and we are ready to adjust.”

“Deserve Victory,” the team’s motto that is recited at every practice, speaks for itself.

“’Deserve Victory’ has to do with the work before you get to the game,” Young said. “You know whether you have done what you need to before, the idea is deserve it before you play it and that’s done in practice.”

Expectations are also high for the boys basketball team this year, as head coach Mr. Dooley believes his team has a lot of promise.

The team won two of its three preseason scrimmages, including one by 40 points.

“We look much improved from the last three years,” Dooley said. “Skill-wise, we have improved our shooting and our defense, and mentally we come in with a better attitude and more focus than we have in past years.”

The team has tried to set the tone at practice this season with tough drills.

“Practices are intense and we’re focused on improving skills and also reviewing offense and defensive concepts,” Dooley said. “I don’t like to practice for a long time. I think ‘get them in, do what you need to do, then get them out.’”

Winning eight games and qualifying for states is a major goal for the team. New and returning players will contribute to the team’s success this season.

“Returning starter Dylan Vienneau and newcomers Nolan Beardsley and Justin McFadden are going to be scoring a lot of points and have been hustling a lot,” senior captain Jeremy Doucette said. “They’re going to be key players for sure.”

The team is working hard with their motto always in the backs of their minds: work hard, play together, overcome the obstacles, meet the challenges, and make sacrifices.

Law will key early season games against Derby, Ansonia, and Lyman Hall. They play rival Foran on January 16 and February 13.