Brianna Del Valle eager to join Orioles' girls hoop 1,000-point club
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Every once in a while during practice this season, Belchertown senior Brianna Del Valle will look up at the school's 1,000-point banner and think "Hopefully. Hopefully."
Now that the standout girls basketball center is just 16 points shy of the mark, the reality of becoming the program's second-ever player on the list is sinking in.
"Now it's finally coming," said Del Valle, who didn't realize she was within striking distance until coach Jason Woodcock told her at the end of last season. "I know that it's going to happen as long as I don't get hurt. It's a great feeling, but it's stressful. Once it happens, it's going to be a nice thing to have. A nice memory. But at the same time, I just kind of want it done."
Del Valle enters tonight's big Bi-County East matchup at Cathedral coming off one of her greatest performances, a 32-point, 17-rebound bit of brilliance during Monday's 55-40 win at South Hadley.
"She has a lot of responsibility on her and she handles it well," Woodcock said. "She knows that without (her teammates), clearly she won't get (the milestone). And the girls know that without her, they don't get the looks they get either."
When Del Valle hits her mark, she'll join 2003 graduate Linda Warrington as the program's lone 1,000-point scorers.
Del Valle averaged 8.4 points per game as a freshman, 8.5 as a sophomore and 15.6 as a junior. This season, she's scoring 17.9 and has posted nine double-doubles while the Orioles have started 11-3.
"This year started off quick," she said. "It was nice to get off to a fast start because it took away some of the pressure."
Once the milestone is reached, Del Valle hopes to lead the program to its third straight Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament semifinals and beyond.
"It will be easier to not have points in the back of my mind as much," she said. "We'll be really focusing on running the offense we need to run and getting ready for the tournament."
BEN MENARD OUT FOR YEAR - Holyoke hockey forward Ben Menard will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery on his broken right wrist last Friday. Menard, who attends South Hadley, had six goals and six assists through seven games for the still-unbeaten Purple Knights.
"It turned out I broke it last May during lacrosse, but I kept playing on it," Menard said. "It hurt off-and-on during the summer, then by the end of field hockey and into hockey season it was bothering me, so I decided to get it checked."
The senior, who will also sit out the Tigers' lacrosse season in the spring, is already committed to playing lacrosse at St. Anselm's College.
As the Knights go for their third consecutive Western Massachusetts Division 3A Tournament title, Menard feels very confident in his teammates.
"Our team is great, and we're going to do very well," he said. "I have a lot of faith in the guys. Even though I can't help out on the ice, I'll do what I can to assist from the bench."
Menard was the top scorer in western Mass. in his first year playing field hockey in the fall, when he and brother Chris Menard helped the Tigers to a Division 1 sectional title. He also helped the Tigers' boys lacrosse team to the WMass Tournament final last spring.
WESTON HONORED - Northampton senior Lauren Weston was honored by Papa Gino's and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation as a "Game Time" student-athlete for the month of January.
Weston, who was nominated by Northampton Athletic Department, received the award for her ability to be a "Game Time" player for her basketball, lacrosse and field hockey teams, as well as her community and school.
"Once again, Papa Gino's is pleased to partner with The New England Patriots Charitable Trust to honor student-athletes within Northampton," said Rick Wolf, President and CEO for Papa Gino's, Inc., in a press release. "By recognizing Lauren Weston, we are honoring the character and skills that this student brings to the practice field, classroom and community."
Weston plays field hockey, basketball and lacrosse for the Blue Devils. Off the court, she's a member of the National Honor Society and Student Government Treasurer. She's also the treasurer for the Mayor of Northampton's Youth Commission, an MIAA student advisor and a Youth Basketball evaluations coordinator and site supervisor.
GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORT DAY - Numerous female athletes from Hampshire County will take part in the Massachusetts celebration of National Girls and Women in Sport Day at Faneuil Hall in Boston on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Among athletes being honored for being "positive, contributing members of both their teams and their school" are Quianna Diaz-Patterson and Melanie Sharick (Amherst Regional), Alexis Stockwell and Savannah Bernardin (Belchertown), Allison Bednarsky and Julie Roberts (Hampshire Regional), Rose Benjamin and Weston (Northampton) and Julia Himmelman and Alice Kubacki (Smith Vocational).
The ceremony, which is held every year, is sponsored by New Agenda Northeast and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Princeton University field hockey coach Kristen Holmes-Winn will be the keynote speaker.
GAME OF THE WEEK, PART 1 - Boys basketball: Granby at Belchertown, tonight, 7 p.m. - This is the first meeting between the Bi-County North rivals. Both teams are undefeated in league play at 3-0. Granby (11-1) is riding a seven-game win streak. Belchertown (12-1) has won three straight. What makes this game interesting is neither team had much practice time leading into the game with school being closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Belchertown is a veteran team. Granby has been driven by its youth.
GAME OF THE WEEK, PART 2 - Boys basketball: Northampton at Amherst, Friday, 7 p.m. - The Blue Devils (13-1, 2-0 Suburban) and Hurricanes (7-5, 0-1) lace it up for the first time this season. Hamp has won nine straight but hasn't played since last Friday. Amherst is 2-3 over its last five but should be aided by the return of Josh Whitaker (foot).
ETC. - In Friday's Amherst Bulletin sports section, Michael Wilkinson checks in with the Hurricanes indoor track teams as it prepares for Friday's PVIAC championship meet at Smith College. ... Northampton is looking for coaches for boys spring track, boys tennis and golf. All interested parties should contact the Northampton athletic department at 413-587-1356.
Staff writers Michael Wilkinson and Mike Moran contributed to this report. Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com. For more coverage, including a high school sports blog, go to www.gazettenet.com/hs-sports.
