In early fall, ten Rye High School senior girls came together to form a basketball team through the local Resurrection Church. The team, which calls itself ‘The Airballs’, is coached by Rye High School senior Cara Scansaroli’s father, Paul Scansaroli. Over the past few months, the girls have learned the game of basketball: all while maintaining the constant goal of winning.
The team competes in a 12G league with five other teams from the southern Westchester area and practices weekly on Tuesdays at Resurrection Middle School’s DOTY Gymnasium. The team typically plays two games each weekend as well.
For the majority of the girls, it is their first time getting back onto the court since elementary or middle school. For that reason, many have found the team’s ability to develop skills quickly and understand basketball concepts to be nothing short of extraordinary.
Point Guards Lila Hudson and Morgan Blacksberg, reunited as teammates on the “Airballs”, played together on Rye JV basketball as ninth graders.
“It has been super fun to get back into basketball and then also see a team dynamic come to life during our games,” Hudson said.
Despite a 2-5 record that may appear disappointing, the Airballs have continued to add to their point totals and improve their skills with each successive game. Thanks to recent wins over rivals St. Augustine and St. John & Paul, the Airballs have climbed to third team in their league standings.
For the Airballs, it is not their skills, but the team’s spirit and teamwork that truly set them apart from the rest. Each point score results in a new celebration, and every game, win or lose, means a celebratory Mamaroneck Diner run. One referee even described the airballs as the “happiest team [he’s] ever seen.”
Not only do the players bring a high level of pride and energy to their games, but they are joined by an equally passionate brigade of fans that shows up at home and away games alike. The girls’ parents even show up to support the players by dressing in themes such as the “USA” or “Pink Out.”
Rye Varsity Girls Basketball player Elizabeth Schwartzman attended the most recent Pink Out home game on January 17th, when the Airballs beat St. John & Paul. Schwartzman called the game “one of the best experiences of my life. The energy on the court and the excitement in the crowd was everything. I especially loved seeing Chloe Holden hustle in each play to score her first points of the season.”
With only four games left in the season, The Airballs are determined to make every second left as a team count.
“We’ve grown so much since our first game,” Hudson said. “Our goal is to trust each other, continue working together and keep getting better every time we step on the court.”
