Sophomore Molly McCarthy talks to us about how she felt as a freshman on the varsity basketball team. This will be Molly’s second year playing for the Hurricanes basketball team. Ever since then she just felt like she fits in. 

While playing on the varsity team as a freshman, Molly has looked up to many of the girls as role models. Her wild personality helps her become closer with the girls from the start. Molly says, “I feel I just fit in because I’ve been playing since kindergarten, they all are role models to me and I learn a lot from them.”

Describing the team as a family, Molly says,“The end result on the court all depends on the bond we have as a team.”

Molly believes that getting along and being close with her teammates does affect the winning and losing factor of the game.

Molly’s first game as a varsity starter had her excited for the rest of the season. She said, “I was very nervous at the beginning, but I kept playing and got more comfortable as the game went on.”

For Molly, basketball has always come easy to her, she has been playing since a very young age. “I learned in East Moriches, playing PAL basketball. It just came to me. Although I do go outside for 2-4 hours everyday. I love trying to get better and work on my skills.” 

Coming from East Moriches Middle School was a different setting for Molly. She says, “Middle school basketball right to varsity was a big step up for me, I really had to work hard to earn it.”

Thinking about her hopes, dreams, and goals as an athlete in only the 7th grade, Molly sees a big future for herself. Hoping to play in college Molly says, “My top choices are Notre Dame, Duke and U Conn. Number one being Notre Dame.”

Having many reasons for wanting to attend Notre Dame, Molly says, “I’m Irish and I feel like I will have so much fun there. It will have a big impact on me and my basketball career.”

After college, Molly dreams of being in the WNBA and playing for New York Liberty, supporting where she is from. 

For now in high school Molly is focusing on balancing all of her sports with her school work. She says, “Sometimes it gets really hectic but I pull through in the end. Basketball motivates me to get good grades and stay as a starter on the team. During the season it actually motivates me to work even harder.”

 Molly explains the feeling of stress at school as, “Lifting off my shoulders while I am on the court doing something I love.”