For the Hun School girls’ basketball team, its regular season game against Peddie in late January was embarrassing.
Trailing 40-19 at halftime, the Raiders went on to suffer a 74-40 drubbing.
“When we played them the first time, we didn’t show up,” said Hun head coach Bill Holup.
Getting a rematch with Peddie in the state Prep A semifinals in February, the Raiders showed their competitive fire. Hun led 31-30 at halftime before the Falcons rode a fourth quarter surge to top the Raiders 63-49.
“The second time we played them in states, it was much more competitive,” said Holup, whose team ended the winter with a 6-15 record.
“We ran out of gas, we didn’t have the horses. Amber (Bourke) was out, she didn’t play in the last two games.”
In reflecting on the season, Holup acknowledged that his team was never really at full strength.
“We were short-staffed, that was the story of the season with all of the injuries,” said Holup.
“It was the most challenging season I have had as a coach. I have had teams with less talent but they were healthy and able to hang in there. This year, every practice, every game, I didn’t know who was going to be there. We had kids playing positions they were not used to.”
Senior captains and star guards Erica Dwyer and Janelle Mullen helped the Raiders hang in there this season.
“Dwyer has been here four years, we are a different team when she is on the floor,” said Holup, noting that Dwyer was sidelined for a few games due to a concussion.
“What she provided was immeasurable. She is a three-sport athlete and that is pretty unusual in this day and age. Janelle missed a handful of games with a fractured finger. In her first game back, she dropped 35 points on Willingboro. She hit a 3 at the buzzer to beat Hill at the MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) tournament. She did some pretty exciting things.”
Junior guard Bourke also did some exciting things this season and will be a key piece of the puzzle for Hun going forward.
“Amber is one of the purest shooters I have ever coached; her form is terrific,” said Holup. “It is beautiful to watch her put up a shot. I expect her to have a big season next year. We will need her to do a lot.”
Sophomore Julia Fassl and freshman Kendall Dandridge showed a lot of pluck this season as they were handed some tough assignments.
“Julie and Kendall were playing out of position at times; I had them playing forwards against girls that were 5’11,” said Holup.
“They never backed down; they stuck their noses in there. Fassl got our Coaches Award. She put in a hard effort no matter what, as did Kendall. She hustled up and down the court.”
While Hun faced a lot of hardship this winter, Holup believes his players gained a lot from the experience.
“It was an extremely challenging season; this is what sports is about,” said Holup, noting that Hun posted two tough wins in the last week of the season, edging Hill (Pa.) 51-50 on the Mullen buzzer-beater in the MAPL semis and then topping Padua (Del.) 63-58 in double overtime in its last regular season game.
“Everyone likes to win but we had adversity every day. It was good to see us play some of our best basketball of the season at the end.”