The Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team are hoping to keep their championship ways going in the post Breanna Stewart era, and this week's CNYCentral Athlete Abbey Timpano is a big reason why 2013 may be another special year for the Northstars .
The senior has been part of the Northstars' stating five for the past three years, becoming C-NS's starting point guard in her junior season, but helping to fill the senior leadership role of Stewart, who's now a freshman with the UConn Huskies, has been her biggest test yet.
"She has handled it really well," says C-NS Head Coach Eric Smith, "we started having conversations as soon as the year ended last year about not having Breanna and people's expectations about our team, and our expectations of ourselves (but) she enjoys and embraces the role and is excited to lead us."
Timpano and Stewart were work out partners, and fed off each other's determination to succeed.
"I think they helped each other out because there was always someone to push the other," explains Smith, "They are both driven and motivated kids that want to be the best that they can be."
Timpano says she is enjoying the different team dynamic so far in her senior season.
"This year we have six seniors so we're all just working together and every night someone new steps up," says Timpano, "we'd love to win sectionals because we have the past several years, so we'll just see how far our hard work goes."
With big games coming up against West Genesee and Nottingham, and the season getting more and more competitive, Timpano's skill and leadership will be more important than ever.
"(Timpano) understands what it takes to play high level basketball and isn't afraid to guard anybody or lay it all on the line," says Smith, "her ability to handle the basketball is phenomenal, and her knowledge to know who to give the ball to is uncanny."
