Gorham High School girls basketball team

The Gorham High School girls basketball team (front row from left): Katelyn Chase, Meghan Remillard, Maddi Buteau, Halery Desilets, Danika Daniels, Jessica Burton and Melyssa Berthelette, (back row): Emma Stephenson, Sage Gallant, Emma Bernier, Assistant Coach Pete Girouard, Karly Cordwell, Zoe Grondin, Coach Joe Cassady, Sarah Godin, Olivia Oniel, Maddie Girouard and Maddie Rivard. Also on the team is Kayla Ciccarello. (STEVE ENMAN PHOTO)

GORHAM — Gorham High School's girls basketball Coach Joe Cassady shared with me that this year’s team is a young squad, with half of the roster consisting of new players.

He said, "Thankfully these players have worked hard at becoming familiar with our program’s game plan and expectations, and the veteran players have done well to lead by example."

Karly Cordwell and Maddie Rivard are the only seniors on the squad, although Rivard is still recovering from a terrible car accident she experienced this past fall.

Hopefully she will be on the court sometime in January.

Cassady is expecting that, "These two will step up as leaders, both as teammates and in the stats columns."

Gorham did lose Abbie Bernier and Alexis Kruskie to graduation, and they were two great defenders and rebounders. 

Cassady is looking to Emma Bernier, Zoe Grondin and Sage Gallantto be forces in the paint with Karly and Maddie, while Maddie Buteau, Katelyn Chase, Kayla Ciccarello and Halery Desilets will be the go-to guards.

The younger players are improving and finding their niches as they become accustomed to the team's offensive and defensive sets, but Cassady is not sure yet what roles they will have.

Cassady is in his fifth year coaching Gorham basketball and his 11th season overall coaching varsity sports.

Though he hopes the team will finish at least at .500, (9-9) he said: "I’ve learned you never really know how good you are until you start playing games. Our team faces arguably the toughest schedule in the division, facing teams such as Groveton, Colebrook, Woodsville and Littleton twice (all of whom are projected to finish in the top four this season by NH Sportspage). We have a good, knowledgeable core group of players and a handful of varsity-ready players on the bench.

"With our first game not happening until Dec. 17 in Colebrook, we have plenty of time to continue to improve our skills and develop our on-court communication." 

Cassady is assisted by Pete Girouard.

 

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