FRESH LOOK: Hun School girls’ basketball player Nia Sapia drives to the hoop in action this season. Freshman guard Sapia emerged as a key performer for Hun, starring at point guard and providing a bright spot for the Raiders, who went 1-22 this winter. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Having won just one game all winter coming into its state Prep A semifinal contest against perennial power Blair Academy, the Hun School girls’ basketball team could have gone through the motions.

Instead, Hun played with verve, producing its best offensive effort of the season, battling valiantly before falling 81-48 to Blair, who went on to defeat Lawrenceville 64-44 in the championship game to win the title for the sixth straight year.

Hun head coach Bill Holup was proud of the way his players competed against the Buccaneers.

“Blair is the top prep team in the state and the fact is that the girls didn’t come out intimidated,” said Holup.

“They came out loose, went out and had some fun. They played well and they made their shots. It was one of the better shooting games, which was certainly a good way to end things. We put in more points than we had in any of the other games.”

Freshman guard Nia Sapia starred in the finale, pouring in 20 points, including three 3-pointers, and dishing out four assists.

“Nia had a lot of weight on her shoulders, being a freshman point guard,” said Holup.

“Unfortunately, with Amber (senior guard Amber Bourke) being out with injury pretty much the whole season, we really had to put a lot on Nia and she was up to it. It wasn’t easy but she learned a lot and as their season progressed she really did a nice job for us.”

Another Hun player who stepped up against Blair was senior Maura Kelly.

“She hit a couple of threes against Blair and finished with 12 points,” said Holup.

“It was a nice way for her to end her four-year career. Every year she had some ups and downs and she came out there every practice and every game and gave her all and had some fun along the way.”

Although Hun didn’t experience many ups this winter as it went 1-22, Holup  didn’t see his players hanging their heads.

“Their attitude was great, they were certainly down at times but they never had any complaints,” said Holup.

“They came back to practice every day hoping to get better and learn more and being able to compete and that is what they were, they were competitors. They came out and gave it their all. They worked hard but they also had some fun along the way, which is important.”

The team stuck together despite the steady diet of losing. “It didn’t matter what the score was or what the margin was or whether it was the beginning of the game or the end of the game, they cheered for each other,” said Holup. “They continued to dive for loose balls, to compete, and do what they could.”

Holup credited the team’s third senior, Sydney Peoples, with developing as a competitor.

“Sydney got a good number of minutes every game,” said Holup. “She gave us some help off the bench as a guard. She was a great kid to have around. She came up through the JV program and she certainly contributed this year.”

Hun got good contributions from junior Julie Fassl and freshman Leah Sutphen.

“Julie had an ankle injury earlier but she finished out the season,” said Holup.  “Julie is Julie; she is a great all around competitor. She has an awesome attitude and personality. She is somebody that would just try to do whatever the coach asks. Leah was a real pleasant surprise. She was really just a good kid to have on the team, she started every game from day one all the way to the end of the season.”

Sophomore Mia Cura also emerged as a pleasant surprise for the Raiders.

“As a freshman she was a JV player, and sophomore year she was a swing player and this year she started virtually every game for us,” said Holup.

“She really started to become much more aggressive; she started to assert herself. She does have a nice shot and once she got some confidence with it, she wasn’t afraid to shoot. That is what we needed for her.”

In Holup’s view, the program has a nice foundation in place going forward.

“The core is there for us and we will just continue building and adding around the core,” said Holup. “We need some height for next year, we are definitely undersized.”

While this year was tough in terms of the record, Holup had a positive experience guiding his charges.

“It wasn’t easy, I have been a competitor and an athlete my whole life,” said Holup, a hoops star at Hightstown High and Wesley College, who has more than 250 wins in his coaching career, including six trips to the state Prep A title game at Hun.

“It did make it easier knowing that the kids were trying and they had a great attitude. I enjoyed coming to practice. It was hard to be angry or upset based on the fact they were good kids who were trying and as a coach, that is what you want from the players.”