Gianna Santacroce was the final Southold ladies basketball participant to take her abilities to varsity again in 2021 — till her little sister, Francesca, simply dedicated to play for a similar college, Ave Maria.
“Once I was being recruited they usually discovered that my sister performed there, they had been like, ‘Oh, we would like you right here 100%. We wish this legacy to proceed,’ ” Francesca informed The Submit.
“They even requested, ‘Are there any youthful of you?’ ” added the senior star level guard on Greenport-Southold’s joint staff.
Whereas Francesca is the youngest, athletic abilities are definitely within the household blood past Gianna, who simply completed her 4 years on the courtroom at Ave Maria final season as a small ahead.
Their older brother, Kevin, was a quarterback on Tempo College’s soccer staff in 2016, and the eldest Santacroce sister, Melina, additionally performed hoops as a ahead for Misericordia College from 2019 to 2023.
“Rising up, taking part in collegiate sports activities, that was the expectation, that was the aim. … It felt like I needed to do it, but additionally like I needed to do it,” stated Francesca, who additionally performs soccer on the North Fork.
“I’d exit and watch all their video games, although I used to be youthful. We nonetheless exit and shoot round on the driveway collectively, although everyone seems to be older. … My sisters and I simply gained an grownup league too.”
A large fork within the street
Francesca stated being seen as a promising basketball participant on the east finish was a large problem.
and Melina. Santacroce household photograph
She careworn that the small faculties east of the Lengthy Island Expressway — Greenport has simply over 300 youngsters from seventh via twelfth grade — can change into out of sight, out of thoughts for recruiters.
The ball-moving standout is the one senior on the mixed staff from the 2 faculties and is one among solely 4 athletes at present dedicated from Southold.
“It takes about an hour to get to any coaching facility for basketball,” she stated.
“It’s quite a lot of dedication. … and lots of people aren’t capable of get a journey that they want or have the time of their day.”
Francesca’s mother and father, Kevin and Linda, had been more than pleased to tug out all of the stops to make sure she was seen to high schools.
“They made so many sacrifices,” she stated, including that mother and pa drove her to and from faraway coaching periods and journey video games — together with forgoing winter household holidays.
“However while you get right here and get this second, it makes all of it price it.”
Double dribble
Gianna additionally struggled to discover a rhythm throughout her highschool tenure, bouncing amongst a number of aggressive faculties up-island earlier than in the end spending her senior season with the Porters.
“She was thrown into a extremely tough scenario. … It was onerous for her, however she nonetheless made it out,” stated Francesca, who desires to main in enterprise, much like Gianna’s pursuit of a finance diploma.
“I at all times seemed as much as her as a result of she at all times took what she acquired, and he or she gave it her all. … I’m simply so happy with her and the way far she’s made it.”
Gianna handed her psychological mindset right down to Francesca, who was lucky sufficient to begin on the identical varsity staff all 4 years of highschool.
“We have now totally different video games, however each have the identical psychological grit, competitiveness and desirous to win,” Francesca stated.
“She was so excited that I’m going to the identical faculty as her, and I can’t await the long run,” added the little sister, who dropped her first 30-point recreation within the Porters’ 55-36 opening win over Miller Place.
There’s nonetheless yet one more activity at hand earlier than altering uniforms in 2026, stated Francesca, who was on the Porters’ 2023 staff that fell 41-33 within the Suffolk finals to Middle Moriches.
“I wish to win a championship,” she stated. “I wish to exit with a bang.”
