KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Hun School girls’ basketball player Jada Jones puts up a shot in a game earlier this season. The addition of sophomore transfer Jones has helped the Raiders get off to a 2-4 start, already doubling last year’s win total when they went 1-22. Hun is next in action when it plays at Princeton Day School on January 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For many basketball teams, getting off to a 2-4 start would be a cause for concern.

But with the Hun School girls hoops team having suffered through a 1-22 campaign last winter, posting two wins in its first six games this season represents major progress.

“We have been competitive in every game; last year when we went into games in literally the first three minutes, the game was already decided,” said longtime Hun head coach Bill Holup.

“The girls always played hard every game last year but the outcome was decided. We were overwhelmed by just about everybody but this year the girls know that they have a chance. They know that teams have to prepare for us. Not only are we playing hard, we are much more competitive this year.”

Hun showed its competitive
fire in a 57-42 defeat to the Shipley School (Pa.) last Friday.

“Shipley is a really, really good team and they were beating us pretty good in the first half,” said Holup.

“We played a really good second half and ended up losing by 15. I think we played looser; we just played basketball. We were much more composed and did a better overall offensive, defensive job in the second half. We put up a good fight.”

The addition of sophomore transfer guard/forward Jada Jones has certainly made Hun better.

“Jada has that ability to score; last year we didn’t have a go-to player,” said Holup.

“She is a basketball player, she knows how to play the game. She knows how to work to get open. She has got a good shot, she can handle the ball. She is also looking for her teammates as well. She has the ability to play guard or forward, which makes her versatile.”

The play of post-graduate point guard Anna Maguire has positively impacted her teammates.

“Anna is a true leader on the court for us, she is very upbeat,” said Holup, noting that Maguire is currently sidelined but should be back in action in January.

“She has got the basketball skills but she also has those leadership qualities that our team really needs. She is always talking to the girls, trying to keep everybody up when they are down a little bit. She wants to handle the ball and she is constantly looking for everybody on the team to contribute. We love having her out there and the girls really look up to her as well.”

A pair of freshmen, Alexis Harvell and Nicole Angelini, have also been contributing.

“Alexis is doing a nice job; we have to keep working with her, she is still raw,” said Holup.

“She gives us the size that we didn’t have last year. She is giving us a chance inside the paint now, something that we didn’t have last year. Nicole Angelini is a very pleasant surprise; she is mainly a soccer player. She is completely fearless on the basketball court, she will mix it up. If she makes a mistake, she makes sure that she doesn’t make that same mistake again and makes up for it at the other end of the floor.”

Holup is expecting Hun to keep up the good work when it returns from the holidays.

“It is a very promising outlook; it is just a good time to celebrate the holiday and have a little bit of a break,” said Holup, whose squad is next in action when it plays at Princeton Day School on January 5.

“We will be able to come back with a positive attitude and know that we are competitive now.”