Labarbera POY

Cross makes All Defensive Team:

Congratulations to Avery, Addie and Coach - three well deserved honors!

A "No name defense" like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who did alright for themselves.

Congratulations to Addie, Avery and Maureen and the whole team.

Nice write-up in the Globe: www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/04/sports/avery-labarbera-leads-top-seeded-holy-cross-into-patriot-league-womens-basketball-tournament/


PATRIOT LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Avery LaBarbera leads top-seeded Holy Cross into Patriot League women’s basketball tournament
By Greg LevinskyUpdated March 4, 2022

Avery LaBarbera, the 2022 Patriot League Player of the Year, has Holy Cross flying high into the conference tournament.MARK SELIGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Avery LaBarbera’s senior season at Holy Cross is reminiscent of her senior year at Harrison (N.Y.) High School. Conference player of the year, the team’s regular season title in a long time — and, she hopes — a conference tournament championship.
Led by LaBarbera, the 2022 Patriot League Player of the Year, the top-seeded Crusaders (20-9, 14-4 Patriot League) open up the tournament at the Hart Center in Worcester with a quarterfinal matchup against the winner of Saturday’s game between Colgate and Navy.

“Fingers crossed, it’s going to be the same thing as in high school,” LaBarbera said. “It’s kind of crazy. I look back at my high school career and it’s a mirror image.”
This time, a conference tournament championship means a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
LaBarbera has racked up plenty of league awards during her decorated career, the league’s player of the year the icing on the cake. The 2019 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, LaBarbera secured All-Patriot League Second Team honors the last two seasons and a spot on the All-Defensive Team last year.

As a senior, LaBarbera averaged 17.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in league play. She’s recorded 17 points-rebounds double-doubles this season, an outstanding feat considering her height of 5 feet 6 inches. LaBarbera also has 10 games with 20 or more points. LaBarbera and her classmates, Oluchi Ezemma, Kelly Petro, and Madison Demski, found comfort with second-year coach Maureen Magarity. Recently named the 2022 Patriot League Coach of the Year, Magarity arrived in Worcester last year after a decade at New Hampshire, steadying a program that had two other coaches in the senior class’s first two year, and guiding Holy Cross to its first regular-season league title since 2006.
The relationship between LaBarbera and Magarity is especially strong. They speak about each other glowingly. Watch a game for just a few minutes and their mutual trust is evident.

“At the end of the day, Avery’s a basketball junkie,” Magarity said. “She really just loves the game … Every kid’s dream is to play in the NCAAs, and I think she’s definitely been motivated with that as the leader of this team.”

Picked fifth in the 10 team Patriot League in the conference’s preseason poll, Holy Cross turned heads in league play. After a posting a 6-5 record in the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Crusaders won seven of eight to begin league play. Following a road loss to reigning conference champion Lehigh, Holy Cross won three consecutive contests before back-to-back losses. The Crusaders closed the regular season with three wins, ending the regular season with a title-clinching victory over Boston University.
LaBarbera led Holy Cross in scoring (16.2), rebounding (9.8), assists (4.2), and steals (1.5) per game during the regular season.

After laying the foundation last year, Magarity feels her team is clicking in their motion style offense. Not only has LaBarbera flourished, but other players like junior guard Addisyn Cross (Patriot League All-Defense), Ezemma and sophomore forward Janelle Allen have had moments.
“Everybody’s a threat, and that’s really helped us this year,” Magarity said. “Obviously Avery’s had a tremendous senior season, but we also have players who returned from last year and [had] confidence in our system.”

Depth is at a premium in the Patriot League this year. Third-seeded Boston University split with Holy Cross. Second-seeded American, fourth-seeded Bucknell, and Lehigh, the fifth seed, are also strong To match up against the variety of weapons in the conference, the Crusaders understand their responsibilities to remain principled on offense, locked in on defense, and to crash the boards with tenacity.

With all NCAA student-athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, LaBarbera has entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and will pursue a master’s while playing a fifth year of college basketball. At Holy Cross, one can only double major. Nonetheless, there’s work left to be done in Worcester.
“Coming in as a freshman, what I saw as a goal was to leave this place better than when I got here,” LaBarbera said. “That’s a winning record and then a championship.”

Holy Cross last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and has made 12 tournament appearances overall. The Crusaders reached the conference semifinals in LaBarbera’s first two years, although the 2020 tournament went unfinished due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Holy Cross fell in the Patriot League quarterfinals.
The Patriot League final is slated for Sunday, March 13, hosted at the highest remaining seed. All Division 1 college basketball teams will find out their NCAA Tournament fate and seedings during the NCAA Selection Show that evening at 8 p.m. on ESPN. LaBarbera hopes to see her Crusaders on screen.
“I can’t even put into words how proud I would feel,” she said.

This is how Avery found out she was named POY …

"Motion Offense". It's natural to follow the ball while watching as a fan, but if you watch Avery move without the ball, to the extent you can on streaming, she's indefatigable.

Curious to see where Avery will end up next year.
Could be an insight as to how highly valued are do -it -all 5’6” PL PoY guards are in higher conferences.

Fine point, Lou

AL will be showing up in the record book when her career comes to a close.

Holy Cross guard Avery LaBarbera is soaring during her senior season
Four-year standout records eighth straight double-double while leading Crusaders over Lafayette for third straight win
Jennifer Toland
Telegram & Gazette


WORCESTER — When Holy Cross senior guard Avery LaBarbera learned there would be no fans allowed at the Hart Center for the Crusaders’ Patriot League home opener against Lehigh earlier this month, she was obviously disappointed, but, as usual, she did not allow that letdown to get her down.
LaBarbera scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, both career highs, to lead Holy Cross to a 64-53 win over the Mountain Hawks, the defending Patriot League champions.
“Sometimes,” LaBarbera said, “it takes a little bit of a punch in the face to really rise up, and we all did that.”
Holy Cross since has updated its attendance policy to include team complimentary pass list and season ticket-holders, and there was a small group of loyal fans at the Hart Center Wednesday night to watch the Crusaders defeat Lafayette, 63-57, for their third straight win.
LaBarbera, who leads HC in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg) and ranks fourth in the PL in both categories, has helped the Crusaders (11-6, 5-1) climb toward the top of the league standings. She is on an incredible roll.
Against the Leopards, LaBarbera scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds, both game highs, for her eighth straight double-double. With 10 double-doubles on the year, she ranks ninth in the NCAA.
“It’s one thing to get a double-double every once in a while,” second-year Holy Cross coach Maureen Magarity said, “but the consistency of what she’s doing every night is amazing.”

The 5-foot-6 LaBarbera, who was the 2018-19 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, is probably best known for her scoring, 3-point shooting and, of course, floor leadership, but she has always been a strong rebounding guard, and for the fourth straight season, she leads HC in steals.
“Defensively,” Magarity said, “it seems like she’s everywhere.”

Collecting on the boards

This year, LaBarbera has taken her work around the rim to a new level. Her previous high rebounding average was 5.9 last season.
“Part of it is I just find a way to get the ball,” LaBarbera said, “and it’s about heart. Obviously I’m not super tall, but I just want the ball in my hands, whether that’s dribbling the ball up or rebounding. I’ve matured into a more dynamic player, more than just a spot-up 3-point shooter.”
LaBarbera also credits HC’s post players, seniors Oluchi Ezemma and Maddie Demski, and sophomore Janelle Allen, for their efforts boxing out.
“I’m reading the ball really well off the rim right now,” LaBarbera said, “but it definitely helps when Janelle and Luch and Maddie are in there boxing out, and I just kind of swoop in there and grab the ball.”

LaBarbera, a two-year captain. plays with a passion that rubs off on her teammates.

“She’s very positive,” Allen said. “She’s consistent, and that shaped my class a lot coming in (last year) and understanding what kind of program we’re trying to build.”
In addition to the difficulty that COVID has brought the last two years, LaBarbera and her classmates have dealt with, and risen above, other challenges. Magarity is their third coach — following Ann McInerney, who was interim coach for a season and a half, and longtime coach Bill Gibbons — and there has been change in the Holy Cross athletics department as well. Kit Hughes is HC’s third director of athletics since 2018.
Sticking together through it all
“I feel like the seniors have stuck together,” LaBarbera said. “We’ve had three coaches and a lot of ADs, but we’ve had each other, and that’s been the main constant throughout my four years here.”
LaBarbera and Magarity forged a strong relationship quickly, and Magarity watched LaBarbera take over as the team’s leader last season as a junior. HC had graduated five seniors, was playing for a new coach and navigating COVID during an abbreviated 2020-21 season.
“It was an emotional year last year for sure, and I thought she really handled it well,” Magarity said. “She was in a completely different role (as the leader), and she struggled a little with having to say tough things in the locker room. This year, she’s not afraid to speak up, and she is so well liked by everybody. I’m really proud of her. She’s a baller. She wants to win, and she is so driven.”
LaBarbera hit a leaning jumper in the lane at the buzzer to lift HC past the University of New Hampshire, Magarity’s former team, 50-49, in December.
“I’m proud of her,” Ezemma said. “She works very hard. She deserves what she’s been working so hard for.”

LaBarbera, Ezemma, Demski and junior Addisyn Cross are housemates and, LaBarbera said, there is always basketball on one of the TVs in their house.
LaBarbera is a political science major, but she is leaning toward a career that will keep her in sports. Last summer, LaBarbera, who grew up in Harrison, New York, did an internship in the Iona College athletics department and learned about the administrative side of athletics.
Plenty on tap in future
LaBarbera, who will enter the transfer portal at the end of HC’s season, will play a fifth year while pursuing her master’s degree, possibly in communications. Sports broadcasting is also something she is interested in, and with her knowledge, articulation and enthusiasm, she would be great at it. She has talked to HC about joining a men’s basketball or baseball game as a color analyst.
“With all the interviews I’ve done,” LaBarbera said, “I have a lot of practice.”
A longtime HC fan and former coach who watched Wednesday’s game thinks LaBarbera would make a terrific coach.
LaBarbera, who registered 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds this year, is a two-time All-Patriot League second-team selection, and she made the PL All-Defensive Team last season.
She helped HC to 18 wins as a freshman and 19 as a sophomore, but the Crusaders have not won a Patriot League championship since 2007.
She obviously wants to change that, and does seem like she is on a mission to go out on top.
“It’s a different feeling,” LaBarbera said. “Being a senior, you’re leaving it all out there, and obviously winning helps. The past three years have been a roller coaster, and we have won in the past three years, but it’s a different feeling. “We’re (near) the top of the standings, and when you’re winning and playing well and the seniors are playing well, it’s really fun to be part of.
“This is it,” LaBarbera said. “I have two more months left, and I’m going to make the most of it. I’m going to make the most of every day in the Hart Center.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @tgsports.

Jennifer Coleman of Navy 1st team - AL 2nd team
Interesting