Simone Pelish's success was forecasted early. Before her varsity debut, teammate Issy Herrera said with a grin that opponents would be surprised because her team had its "secret weapon" in a dynamic seventh-grader.
So talented was Pelish that even a senior described the 12-year-old as the future of local basketball. Lofty expectations, of course, and perhaps premature. But absolutely accurate.
The 6-foot guard went on to become one of the best girls basketball players Dutchess County has produced and she compiled an incredible list of accolades while putting on a show and elevating her game each season. The only missing entry on her athletic resume was a championship. Until last month.
Pelish nixed that narrative, capping a sterling career by leading Our Lady of Lourdes to the Class AAA state championship, crafting for herself the storybook ending. The Miami commit averaged 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and set a Lourdes record with 2,225 career points en route to delivering the program's first state title since 2004.
Crowning achievement: Pelish leads Lourdes to first state championship since 2004
'More earned': Fox leads rebuilding Millbrook to unlikely Section 9 title
'For him': Inspired by brother's cancer battle, Boyd leads Red Hook to basketball 3-peat
As her farewell to high school hoops, Pelish dropped 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in leading the Warriors over powerhouse Liverpool in the state final. With that, she earned Journal Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors for a third time.
Co-Player of the Year: Natalie Fox, Millbrook
So confident was Adam Peek in the trajectory that Natalie Fox’s talent would determine, that the Millbrook coach confidently predicted she soon would lead them to great heights and become a Division I college prospect. She was in middle school then.
Fox then made him into a soothsayer, surpassing even that grand projection. She grew to 6-foot-4 and became a superstar, first anchoring the post as a defensive stalwart, then refining her offensive skills to become a dominant two-way center. Fox led the Blazers to two consecutive state championships and had seemingly cemented her legacy by the 11th grade.
Not so, though, because she made a significant amendment to it this winter. With Millbrook having graduated each of its starters and experienced players, except her, the belief was that this team would begin a rebuilding phase and the senior would have to endure the secondhand growing pains. Instead, the William & Mary commit put forth her most productive season and blossomed as a leader when it most was needed.
Fox averaged 27.5 points, 17.2 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 3.3 assists per game, guiding the Blazers to the Section 9 Class C championship. Her last high school game was a regional final in which she had 41 points and 22 rebounds. With those accomplishments, the five-time All-Star was named the Journal's Co-Player of the Year.
First team
Katie Boyd, Red Hook, senior, guard : The Cortland commit long had earned a reputation for her leadership and hustle, but she also flourished as a scorer and playmaker in the postseason, helping the Raiders win a third straight Section 9 championship. In addition to her impressive defense, the point guard averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, earning all-section honors.
Jaylyn Chorba, Roy C. Ketcham, senior, guard : A "pest," in the best sense, the Pace commit consistently hounded ball-handlers, often forcing mistakes. Chorba's energy and guile helped drive Ketcham to a Section 1 Class AAA title, as did her 10.2 points, 6.8 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Mahogany Felix, Poughkeepsie, 8th, guard : With her quickness, smooth handle and confidence belying her age, Felix burst onto the scene as a prolific scorer this season. Her ability to shoot from the perimeter or maneuver into the paint helped create openings for teammates as she led the rebuilding Pioneers to their first Section 1 playoff win since 2012.
Kayla Johannesen, Our Lady of Lourdes, senior, guard : The Plattsburgh commit shined brightest beyond the box score with excellent defense, hustle and clutch plays. She also became an excellent facilitator and averaged seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists while helping the Warriors conquer Class AAA.
Grace Kennedy, John Jay, senior, guard : A 5-foot-10 point guard with a handle, vision and the ability to finish through contact, she again helped the Patriots reach the playoffs. Kennedy averaged 15 points, five assists and five rebounds, earning all-Section 1 honors. The two-sport star is committed to Mount Saint Vincent for basketball and soccer.
Emilie Kent, Red Hook, junior, forward : A 6-foot talent whose repertoire continues to expand, she had another stellar season and led the Raiders to the Section 9 Class A title. Kent eclipsed 1,000 career points and averaged 21 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks, earning Journal All-Star honors for a third time.
Grace Koehler, Highland, senior, guard : The New Paltz commit excelled as a scorer and passer and, with her length and instincts, was solid on the defensive end. She led the Huskies to their first section title since 2018 and was named the Section 9 Class B Player of the Year.
Jackie Kozakiewicz, Our Lady of Lourdes, senior, guard : A defensive-minded combo guard, she provided ball-handling, playmaking and reliable outside shooting. The Brockport commit averaged nine points, five assists and three steals and came up big in the postseason.
Reilly Landisi, Beacon, junior, guard : Her quickness and passing made her a standout, but she complemented those talents by improving significantly as a scorer this season. Landisi averaged 17.8 points and five assists while leading the Bulldogs to the Section 9 Class A semifinals.
Blythe McQuade, Spackenkill, junior, guard : Described by coach Don Niese as a "do-it-all guard," her quickness, perimeter skills and leadership helped a young team reach the Section 9 Class B playoffs. McQuade averaged 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.4 assists and was named a section all-star.
Gabby Murphy, Marlboro, junior, guard : Her emergence as a strong three-point shooter added to a bag that includes her ability to penetrate and finish or create. The point guard averaged 17 points, five rebounds and three assists while leading Marlboro to the Section 9 Class A final.
Jenny Nardelli, Roy C. Ketcham, senior, guard : An excellent outside shooter whose offense could quickly turn games, Nardelli averaged 14.6 points per game and set the program record for career 3-pointers while helping Ketcham reach the Class AAA regional final. She also is an Albany softball commit.
Hannah Polumbo, Marlboro, senior, forward : The 6-footer has excelled in the post since the eighth grade, and she concluded her high school career with another strong season, helping Marlboro reach a section final. The Saint Michael's College commit averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds, surpassing 1,000 of each.
Nia Rencher, Roy C. Ketcham, senior, center : A superb rebounder and rim protector, she improved as a post scorer and controlled the paint for Ketcham, leading them to a dominant season that culminated in a second section title in three years. The 6-foot-1 star averaged 16.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, earning all-Section 1 and league Player of the Year honors.
Gabby Sweeney, John Jay, senior, forward : The Bryant commit was an offensive mismatch for most opponents, a 6-foot-1 hybrid forward comfortably operating in the post and on the perimeter. She averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Patriots to the Section 1 Class AA quarterfinals.
Second team
Deanna Barry, Highland, G, Sr.
Michelle Blackburn, Pine Plains, G, So.
Nahgabriel Brathwaite, Poughkeepsie, G, Sr.
Samantha Calahan, Highland, F, Jr.
Olivia Farnham, Webutuck, G, Sr.
Deona Garcia, Arlington, G, Sr.
Liz Hieter, Pine Plains, G, Sr.
Ally Kaminski, Ketcham, F, So.
Kalle Masseo, New Paltz, G, Sr.
Camilla McDaniel, Haldane, G, Sr.
Caitlin Robertson, Ketcham, F, Sr.
Daveya Rodriguez, Beacon, F/G, Jr.
Bianka Velovic, Lourdes, F, So.
Honorable mention
Arlington : Ella Bailey, G, So.; Olivia Mrazek, C, Jr.
Beacon : Devyn Kelly, Beacon, G/F, Sr.
Franklin D. Roosevelt : Erin Drickel, F, Sr.; Lillyanna Parise, G, So.; Kristeen Thomas, G, Jr.
Haldane : Marisa Peters, G, So.
Highland : Danica Valente, G, Jr.
John Jay : Nico Cuba, G, So.; Brooke Mattesino, G, Fr.
Marlboro : Nalyah Campbell, Marlboro, G, Fr.
Millbrook : Serafina Fauci, G, Sr.; Lydia Kascsak, Millbrook, F, So.; Hannah Ross, G, Sr.
New Paltz : Bella Morales, G, So.
Our Lady of Lourdes : Lila Lovgren, G/F, Jr.
Pine Plains : Nevaeh Rennie, F, 8th
Poughkeepsie : Nyla Anderson, G, So.
Red Hook : Liv Christensen, G, Sr.
Spackenkill : Maryclare Parker-Stark, F, Jr.
Webutuck : Abby McEnroe, G, So.; JoAnna Voigt, G, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Al Viani, Lourdes : His team wasn't considered a state title contender when the season began. It had been almost two decades since the Warriors had last won a championship and this core had twice fallen short in sectionals. But, under Viani's leadership, the Warriors improved throughout the season and peaked at the right time, marching through the playoffs to capture MHAL, sectional and regional titles, then eventually the Class AAA state crown.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Girls basketball: Fox, Pelish shine bright among the Journal's 2023-24 All-Stars
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