Mark Gilmore, the “music man” for Johnston High School girls’ basketball home games, set a terrific tone for Saturday’s Senior Sendoff Night.
While head coach Chris Corsinetti watched his Lady Panthers go through their pregame warm-ups, the sound of what many people have often called the Temptations “national anthem” echoed through the Edward L. DiSimone Gymnasium.
The song’s official title is “My Girl” that dates back to the mid 1960’s and is still as popular as ever with Motown music lovers.
“Wow, that’s rather appropriate title for tonight’s game,” a JHS basketball fan noted. “Tonight is all about our girls.”
Make that six senior Lady Panthers – Amelia Moore, Julianna Zalewski, Sophia DeCosta, Gabby DiRaimo, Bianca Robbins and Cleasia Peoples - who played the final home game of their high school careers and wound up defeating Coach Linda Correnti’s Lady Sentinels of Smithfield High, 67-53, for Johnston’s 12th win in 13 RI Interscholastic League starts.
Junior Kaylina Zaleswski led Johnston with 15 points while Gabby DiRaimo added 14 key points and Cleasia Peoples chipped in with 13.
The pregame ceremony, during which the six seniors and their parents were honored, was filled with mixed emotions as well as sportsmanship.
With Gilmore pumping more mighty music into the gym, Mr. JHS Basketball Public Address Announced Glenn Carroll of Johnston Community Center Association fame, livened up the special ceremony during the introduction of each player and their parents.
The Lady Panthers presented their mighty moms with flowers and later – once the tears of joy subsided – Lorenzetti’s cadgers gave each of Smithfield’s senior players a flower as yet another show of superb sportsmanship.
Johnston concluded its regular season last night at South Kingstown and now awaits its first round opponent in the upcoming Interscholastic League Division I State Tournament.
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