The phrase “offense wins games, but defense wins championships” could well apply to the South Hunterdon girls basketball team.
The Eagles are leaning on defense this year.
“In order to reach our potential, we will have to continue our defensive emphasis,” coach Gene Schaedel said. “It has helped us in some important wins like Immaculata, Springfield and Delaware Valley. It has let us down a bit in losses against Pingry and Bernards. We have a lot of potential on that end but sometimes we let things get in the way of full focus.
“Our season has been about what I expected so far. We are very reliant on our starters; Tylar Cloyd, Kadie Fleming, Eve Durkee-Neumann, Sophie Hinman and Kylee Conner.
“Hinman’s shooting has been a bright spot and Connor and Durkee-Neumann have also shot the ball well. Fleming and Cloyd have provided interior scoring, four shots and play making.
“Logan Rzasa and Katie Constantini are our primary bench players but it’s more short appearances. They play with energy, though, and they’re great kids.”
South Hunterdon is 8-5 overall, 5-2 in the Skyland Conference Mountain Division. The Eagles topped Belvidere on Tuesday, 41-31. Cloyd led all scorers with 21 points in the game.
“Our season has had a lot of ups and downs,” said Cloyd, a senior point/shooting guard for the Eagles. “One of the really good things is that overall, we’ve definitely connected as a team. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we have good connections off the court, so that makes it even easier for us to play together.
“This is my last year with the team and for myself, I’d like to score more. Last year I was all about passing, passing, passing. Of course I could score last year, but I want to be more involved in that this year and have a better overall game.
“The most important part for me is just trying my hardest all the time. It hit me a couple days ago this is my last season playing and I want to play each game like it’s my last and leave it all on the court.
“For our team, I want us to just play as hard as we can and to have fun. If we do that, then the season will be a success.”
Cloyd leads the team with 156 points and 30 steals, while Hinman, a sophomore, has 78 rebounds so far this season and also leads the team in 3-point goals with 22. Durkee-Neumann, a senior, leads the Eagles with 30 assists.
The Eagles are back in action on Thursday, hosting Manville in a Skyland Conference Mountain Division game at 7 p.m.
“Overall, it’s been a very enjoyable season so far,” Schaedel said. “We hope to make another deep run in our county and at states.”
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