Just over five years ago, the Patchogue-Medford varsity girls basketball team got a new coach, Leighann Gallagher, a former Pat-Med student-athlete who graduated in 2008.
After playing for the …
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Just over five years ago, the Patchogue-Medford varsity girls basketball team got a new coach, Leighann Gallagher, a former Pat-Med student-athlete who graduated in 2008.
After playing for the Suffolk and the SUNY Cortland teams, she came to Pat-Med in 2018 with the goal to grow the program.
Now, five years later, her recruited middle-school players are seniors leaving a team that has not only grown, but prospered.
Gallagher also coaches the JV field hockey team and is a physical education teacher.
“I came back wanting to make a difference for student-athletes at Pat-Med,” she said. “I had such a great experience there and have so much pride for PM athletics.”
When the program was struggling, she explained that she strove to foster an environment where girls were eager to play and basketball and the sport wasn’t just a third-sport option for athletes.
“With the leagues being so competitive, we struggled to cultivate a basketball-first atmosphere for the girls at Pat-Med, and I knew starting with the youth was going to be my first step,” she said of starting at the elementary-school level.
Since then, the team has rebuilt, clinching the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and clinched a home playoff win for the first time since 2005 in the 2022-23 season; Gallagher received Coach of the Year for League II in 2022-23, and the team clinched the playoff spot to the quarterfinals in 2023-24.
Gallagher also credits the success to the volunteer coaches and community members who also helped grow their Raider Youth Basketball program.
“With my amazing volunteer coaches and community members, we were able to cultivate an atmosphere where girls became passionate about basketball and loved the coaches involved,” she said. “It has since started to make a difference throughout school athletics. It’s been really incredible to see.”
The team is made up of seven seniors, all with accolades of their own:
Diamond Pertillar, No. 23
“Playing basketball has made me better and a more confident person. This team is like family and I’m still processing moving on. We have had a great time together working hard to get where we are. I will miss all of the fun we shared.”
Alexis Bulson-Cuozzo, No. 20
“As a senior I have been part of the Raider youth basketball program from the beginning. Seeing the program grow and how many young athletes participate and look up to us as role models and come and support us is a great feeling. I love being able to share what I have learned about basketball with them and seeing their excitement. Being a part of this program is truly like having a second family and everyone supports each other. Leaving this program is hard, but I’m so proud of what it has become and I know it will continue to grow. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life, but know I will always have the support of this program and will be welcomed back to help out.”
Isabella Salducco, No. 25
“Graduating from my school basketball program isn’t just about saying goodbye to the current team, it is about leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond my time spent on the court. We dedicated years of our lives to this sport and this program, and now we have the opportunity to pass on our passion and the family environment we cultivated to the future leaders of the program. Though our time with the program may be drawing to a close, our legacy will endure through the continued success and growth of the team, serving as a testament to our passion, dedication, and commitment to excellence. I can’t wait to see what the girls accomplish in the future.”
Sophia Emr, No. 3
Tamiya Williamson-Fraser, No. 15
Jaidyn Allen, No. 4
Angelina D’Amato, No. 11
“These amazing seniors were my first Raider Youth Basketball middle-school group, a youth basketball organization we started in 2019 alongside coaches and Patchogue-Medford community members, Gina Conrad, Pam Julian-Petersen, Marc Negrin, and Chick Hamm,” Gallagher added. “These seniors have made an enormous impact on the program, shining light on the reality of hard work paying off. They have set the standard and have become pillars of the program.”
“Our seniors have all stayed dedicated to the process, come together as a family, and have each grown immensely as players, and individuals. It’s bittersweet that they are graduating, but the legacy and impact they have left on the program is irreplaceable,” she added. “They have truly inspired their underclassman, teaching them how to overcome obstacles and persevere through the tough days. I know this group will do amazing things and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to coach them all; they will always hold a special place in my heart.”
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