ON THE BALL: Hun School boys’ basketball player ­Dominic Robb goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, post-graduate Robb contributed 15 points to help Hun defeat the Academy of New Church (Pa.) 62-42. On Saturday, he tallied a game-high 11 points as the Raiders topped the Hill School (Pa.) 45-43 in overtime. Hun, now 5-6, hosts the Blair Academy on January 14 and Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on January 17 before playing at Lawrenceville on January 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After enjoying a fine career for the North Catholic High boys’ hoops team in Pittsburgh, Dominic Robb came to the Hun School this year as a post-graduate to mature as a person and a basketball player.

“I wanted to get another year in high school because I am young for my grade,” said Robb.

“I just really wanted to prepare for college completely and this has been a really good experience for me. It has been a very good transition basketball-wise and school-wise, taking everything in and being away from home a little is good.”

Last Wednesday, the 6’7 Robb looked very good, scoring 15 points to help Hun defeat the Academy of New Church 62-42 in its first action since the holiday break.

“I was definitely looking for the inside shot, it is the highest percentage shot,” said Robb. “If it is the thing that is open, it is a good shot.”

Robb was an inside force on the defensive end, making several blocked shots and grabbing some key rebounds.

“We know that defense wins games and that offense will come to us,” said Robb.

“We have the talent. If we just keep the effort up on defense, we should beat any team we play.”

In Robb’s view, coming to Hun has helped him refine his talent. “My touch around the basket has no doubt improved; my jumper has improved,” said Robb, who scored a game-high 11 points last Saturday as Hun edged the Hill School (Pa.) 45-43 in overtime to improve to 5-6. “I lifted all summer and we just trained really hard and prepared a lot for this season.”

Hun head coach Jon Stone has been pleased with Robb’s hard work this season. “Dominic has been doing that for us all year long,” said Stone.

“He defends, he rebounds. I think he had three or four blocked shots in the first two minutes of the game and that sets a tone for us defensively. He can do multiple things for us, he is a huge asset. Every game he gets better and he is only going to get better still. He has got a very high ceiling.”

The Raiders produced one of their better defensive efforts of the year against ANC, holding the Lions scoreless for the first five minutes of the contest and limiting them to nine points in the first quarter and eight points in the third.

“I think our defensive intensity picked up a little bit,” said Stone. “We didn’t have a great practice yesterday and the guys know it and they improved on it today.”

Hun got another great effort in the victory over ANC from senior guard Eric Williams as he scored a game-high 16 points. “That is just what he does, he can shoot as well as anybody,” said Stone. “He is confident. His shot selection is fantastic and he makes shots.”

The play of senior Tucker Stevenson and sophomore Austin Hutcherson off the bench gave Hun a shot in the arm as Stevenson contributed four points and some good hustle plays while Hutcherson tallied 10 points.

“Tucker did everything I asked him to do in the game, he was perfect,” said Stone. “Hutcherson came in and played hard and made some shots, he is improving every day too.”

With Hun having dropped its last four games before its holiday break, Stone saw the performance against ANC as an improvement.

“Any time you can get a win after two weeks off, that is a good thing,” said Stone, whose team hosts the Blair Academy on January 14 and Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on January 17 before playing at Lawrenceville on January 20.

“We lost four in a row unfortunately so we need wins at this point. Our next four games are league games so to get a win before league play is always great.”

Robb, for his part, believes Hun can do some good things as the winter unfolds.

“This win is definitely a confidence builder,” said Robb. “When the playoffs start, we want to win every single game.”