Holy Innocents CYO Teams Undefeated

For the eighth grade athletes on the Holy Innocents Church Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball teams, teamwork and growth have defined their time on the court.

Many of the players on both the boys and girls teams have been playing with each other since as far back as kindergarten—and now they are enjoying the benefits of their years of hard work as they look back on undefeated (12-0) regular seasons.

"They are doing a nice job," acknowledged Anthony Sardo, the boys head coach. "I think they have responded very well and are playing well with each other."

Sardo's Division C team, made up of about half Pleasantville and half Westlake residents—including Eric DeLoughry, Jack Finnegan, Jordan Jana, Jason Kalle, Joseph Lupetin, Aidan McDermott, Ryan Power, Anthony Sardo and Alexander Warne—mostly know each other from attending CCD classes at Holy Innocents, and from being on the court together for some years now.

"Most of them—with the exception of one who is a non-parisioner—have known each other since first grade," said Sardo.

Similarly, Nicole DiFabio, Lauren Holzer and Annie Stockel of the girls team, coached by Mark DiFabio, have been teammates since third grade.

"We are playing good team basketball, very agressive," asserted DiFabio, who also coaches Natalie Dell, Bella Godino, Alex O'Brien, Remi Manna and Sabrina Mittelstadt.

"The girls have improved tremendously over the last year," he added. "They have been playing team basketball rather than individual basketball."

According to DiFabio, the tail end of the regular season proved to be a challenge, "but our girls really rallied against these strong teams and really slammed the door on them and turned their backs," he said.

Sardo said he was especially proud of the boys when they rallied to win a tight game in Croton early in the season after he was tossed from the gym for challenging a referee's call.

"They were able to pull together and compose themselves," he reflected. "They battled back and played well."

Heading into playoffs Sunday against Immaculate Conception Parish, of Irvington, Sardo said his boys, "would love to stay undefeated."

DiFabio wants his team to focus on one game at a time, but he is confident the Number One seeded Division B team can defeat some of the Division A opponents, including a tough Katonah squad that always brings a "battle."

"I think we are going to surprise some people that have seen us play for the past four years," he said. "Our first game this weekend is against St. Mary's—they are almost like an archrival."

Both coaches are proud of the progress of their teams in their final year of CYO athletics before they head off to high school.

And more victories could be the icing on the cake.

"Obviously, the boys—being that it is their last year of CYO—would love to go out on top," said Sardo.