The bad news for the rest of the Cape Ann League girls basketball scene next year: There will still be a “Bellacqua” terrorizing the league in a Pentucket jersey.
The good news: At least it won’t be the same one that’s been doing it for the past three years.
After an excellent high school career that just wrapped up with her leading Pentucket (22-2) to the Division 3 Quarterfinals, Gabby Bellacqua walks away having earned CAL Kinney MVP honors for the 2023-24 season. The dynamic, three-level-scoring guard averaged an even 12.0 ppg with 24 3s this winter, and leaves as a three-time All-CAL selection (1x MVP), and likely three-time Daily News All-Star. For her Pentucket career, the Bates College commit finished with a sublime overall record of 66-14.
And her younger sister, Sofia, was the sophomore point guard on the team this year.
But the older Bellacqua wasn’t the only Panther honored.
The team’s talented trio of Bellacqua, fellow senior captain Ava DiBurro and star sophomore Amelia Crowe all made the All-CAL First Team. Crowe finished second in the area in scoring at 15.0 ppg with 38 3s, while DiBurro — a UMass Boston commit — averaged 10.1 ppg with 39 3s. Their coach, John McNamara, was awarded CAL Kinney Coach of the Year, while Pentucket as a team won the league’s Sportsmanship Award for the excellent hospitality — and game-day production — that beloved Athletic Director Dan Thornton helps to set up.
Elsewhere, plenty of other local athletes were recognized.
Georgetown (14-9) won a share of its second straight CAL Baker title, and saw four players make a league All-Star team. Senior point guard Tyrah Marcelin (12.1 ppg, 24 3s) ended her career with an All-CAL nod, and was a huge reason why the team was able to earn its first win over Newburyport in 12 years this season. The Royals then had three make the CAL All-Star list between breakout freshman Talya Mariani (10.4 ppg, 39 3s), and sophomores Neiylah Marcelin (10.4 ppg) and Katie Davies (6.5 ppg).
Speaking of Newburyport, senior point guard Olivia McDonald (6.8 ppg, 27 3s) helped to power the program on an epic run to the Division 3 Quarterfinals as the No. 27 seed. She was named to the All-CAL team, while junior forward Olivia Foley (10.1 ppg) earned a CAL All-Star nod.
Moving over to Triton, senior forward Kendall Liebert led the area in scoring this winter at 15.7 ppg, and was deservedly selected All-CAL. She helped to lead the Vikings (11-11) to their first 10-win season in seven years, as did senior point guard Reese Renda, who was named a CAL All-Star.
And finally, both senior Cali Catarius and junior Ellie Marden were named CAL All-Stars for Amesbury. Marden (8.4 ppg) put up solid numbers despite missing half of the season with an injury, and, partially as a result, was given the league’s Courage Award.
Here are the complete league All-Star teams.
All-CAL
Essex Tech: Thais Dos Santos, Jr., guard; Georgetown: Tyrah Marcelin, Sr., guard; Hamilton-Wenham: Gabby Campbell, Sr., guard; Ipswich: Lucy Donahue, Soph., guard; Lynnfield: Hayden Valiton, Soph., guard; Manchester-Essex: Harper Brooks, Soph., guard; Lily Oliver, Soph., guard; Newburyport: Olivia McDonald, Sr., guard; North Reading: Bella Cannalonga, Sr., guard; Pentucket: Gabby Bellacqua, Sr., guard/forward; Ava DiBurro, Sr., forward; Amelia Crowe, Soph., guard; Triton: Kendall Liebert, Sr., forward;
CAL All-Stars
Amesbury: Cali Catarius, Sr., guard; Ellie Marden, Jr., guard/forward; Essex Tech: Janelle Dalton, Jr., forward; Georgetown: Neiylah Marcelin, Soph., guard; Katie Davies, Soph., guard; Talya Mariani, Frosh., guard/forward; Hamilton-Wenham: Grace Harris, Jr., guard; Sadie Gamber, Jr., guard; Ipswich: Ella Stein, Sr., forward; Lynnfield: Taylor Valiton, Jr., guard; Manchester-Essex: Phileine de Widt, Sr., forward; Newburyport: Olivia Foley, Jr., forward; North Reading: Caitlin Reilly, Sr., guard; Triton: Reese Renda, Sr., guard
Miscellaneous Awards
MVP (Kinney): Gabby Bellacqua, Pentucket.
MVP (Baker): Lily Oliver, Manchester-Essex.
Coach of the Year (Kinney): John McNamara, Pentucket.
Coach of the Year (Baker): Lauren DuBois, Manchester-Essex.
Sportsmanship (Kinney): Pentucket.
Sportsmanship (Baker): Ipswich.
Courage Award: Ellie Marden, Amesbury.