Reds back in win column
One game into the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association regular season and the Denis Morris Reds senior girls basketball team is already better than a season ago.
“I haven’t been the coach for the last two years but we have not won a game in the last two years,” said DM head coach Stefanie DeMizio, following a 42-19 victory over the visiting Saint Michael Mustangs Wednesday at the St. George and St. Mercurius Church gym. “This is our first win and you can see that our girls were very excited. We were ready for this one and it has been a long time in the making so it was a very good day.”
DeMizio expects it won’t be the last win for the Reds this season.
“So far, so good. It was a surprising showing but we have some girls that can make some baskets.”
It was DeMizio’s first and last coaching win of the season as she is going on maternity leave in anticipation of the birth of her second child.
“I’m leaving the season undefeated and it is a very good feeling,” she said, with a laugh.
Helping her leave on a high note was Grade 9 player Sofia Sestilli who poured in a game-high 24 points, including 17 in the second half.
“Sofia is a very strong player and a good finisher,” DeMizio said. “I have coached three of her sisters before and they all have that Sestilli scoring gene in them. It is nice to have one more coming through DM.”
She feels the latest Sestilli is exactly like all the others.
“She is a hustler, she has great hands and she can make baskets when it counts. She is very unselfish and she is only in Grade 9. We have her talent for years to come.”
The 14-year-old enjoyed playing in her first high school basketball game.
“It was really fun and I liked it. It is definitely better than elementary school,” the St. Anthony’s graduate said.
The Pelham Panthers travel player had no idea coming into the game that the Reds had been looking for a win for a long time.
“My sister played two years ago and I thought they won some games.”
Previous Sestillis to play for Denis Morris were Bianca, Sabrina and Claudia.
“I also have a brother and I am the last in line of five.”
Sofia feels she is “definitely the best” of all the sisters when it comes to playing basketball.
“They probably won’t agree with that,” she said.
She agreed all the sisters play a similar style.
“We all have the same strengths. We are all pretty good shooters and finishers.”
High school basketball is a big deal to her.
“It’s important. I have been playing since I was four so I just enjoy playing all basketball.”
She is looking forward to the rest of the high school season.
“I think we are going to win some more games.”
Saint Michael head coach Alex Felicetti agreed his team looked like it was playing its first game of the season.
“We definitely have some things to work on in practice this week.”
He likes what he has to work with in 2023.
“We have a nice, good, positive group of girls. They are all friends.”
He is looking forward to getting them to play his style of basketball.
“I want to move the ball up the court fast and get the shots off quick. We are going to work on defending the fast break and that is something we need to improve on in practice this week.”
Felicetti knows his squad needs to shoot better than it did Wednesday.
“That is something we need to work on. We have to work on those easy points because we can’t let them go as you can see on the scoreboard.”
STATS PACK
Reds 42 Mustangs 19
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Denis Morris’ Sofia Sestilli with 24 points.
For the Denis Morris Reds: Sestilli 24; Trinity King 6; Jenna Berry 4; Isabella Molek 3; Tessa Pingue 2; Nevaeh Jones 2.
For the Saint Michael Mustangs: Brianna DiMarchi 8; Mya Pasto 7; Ava Hodgson 2; Ava Baille Pendzinski 2.
