Horne Continues Development as Inside Force

CARMEL—When Carmel High girls basketball coach Dan O’Hare watched Brittany Horne playing on the modified team as a seventh-grader, visions of future trips to the County Center probably popped into his head.

Jim Carey of Clancy Moving presents Brittany Horne with the Clancy Moving/Putnam Courier Athlete of the Month trophy. SKIp PEARLMAN Four years later, those visions became reality, as Horne, a 6-1 junior forward, was a driving force behind Carmel’s standout 2009-2010 season, which ended with a trip to the Class AA semifinals last week.

Once there, the Rams’ title run was de-railed by a tough Mt. Vernon squad, ending Carmel’s season at 16-5.

But Horne was probably Carmel’s most consistent factor all season.

She arrived on the Carmel varsity as an eighth-grader, and quickly showed signs of what was to come.

Horne was forced to sit out her freshman year with an injury, but returned as a sophomore and began to fine-tune the various aspects of her game.

Carmel’s Brittany Horne SKIp PEARLMAN As a junior this winter, Horne has displayed a maturity that has resulted in her raising the level of her play. She’s been a double-double machine for Carmel this season – averaging 18 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and two blocks per game. She was named All-Section and All-League for the second straight season.

And of course those numbers came despite the fact that Horne was the focal point of opposing defenses.

During the month of February—in seven games—Horne averaged 17 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and two blocks a game, and paved the way for the Rams’ second trip to the County Center in school history. Her standout month earned her the PUTNAM COURIER’s February Athlete of the month award.

O’Hare said Horne has worked hard to improve her game, and it’s shown this winter.

“For a girl her size, she has tremendous ball-handling skills,” O’Hare said. “She has an ability to find her way inside and outside. Her versatility as a big person is impressive… most 6-1 high school players are post players, but she can step outside and be effective. She has a keen sense of ball location, she reads the rebound very well, and goes and gets it. Part of that ability is the result of a long wing-span. College coaches love her length.”

O’Hare said Horne has come a long way since her arrival on the varsity.

“I was impressed when I saw her on modified,” the coach said. “Between then and the eighth grade she decided she wanted to play, and put the time in. Since then, she’s improved her range and ball-handling skills. As an eighthgrader she had a six- to eight-foot shot. Now she can step out and launch threes with a fair amount of consistency. Although she still has a way to go there.”

And her presence has had an impact that resulted in a ripple effect on her teammates.

“Someone with that skill level brings a lot of attention to our program,” O’Hare said. “Also, the younger players see what hard work can do. They try to play up to her level. Our sophomores have been particularly influenced by her.”

And as a head coach of some 25 years, O’Hare knows players like Horne don’t show up every day. “You might get a player like this once every five or six years – if you’re lucky,” he said.

The next step for Horne – who has drawn interest from several Division 1 colleges – is to fine-tune different parts of her game.

“This off-season we’d like to see her work on taking the ball to the basket more,” O’Hare said. “And shooting off the dribble. I think she’ll mature more physically, and when she puts on more weight she’ll be able to play inside and out in college.

“She’s just been a joy to coach,” O’Hare concluded. “She has a very good sense of humor, and it will be great to see her development in the future.”

Other athletes nominated for February Athlete of the Month include Mike Parisi of Brewster wrestling, Jordan Cirocco of Brewster boys basketball, Emily Tapio of Brewster girls basketball, Kevin Davidson of Carmel wrestling, Kris Castro of Putnam Valley wrestling, Allison Santini of Kennedy Catholic girls basketball, and Allison Muller of Mahopac gymnastics. Nominations should be sent to epearlman1@optonline. net the last week of each month.