MOVING FORWARD: Hun School girls’ basketball player Sasha Moise, middle, looks for an opening in a game earlier this season. Last week, junior forward Moise scored 13 points with four rebounds and three steals to help third-seeded Hun defeat sixth-seeded Peddie 54-33 in the opening round of the state Prep A tournament. The Raiders, now 14-10, play at second-seeded Pingry on February 23 in the Prep A semis. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Hosting longtime rival Peddie in the opening round of the state Prep A tournament last week, the Hun School girls’ basketball team wasn’t messing around.

Clicking at both ends of the court, third-seeded Hun built a 21-5 lead over the sixth-seeded Falcons by the end of the first quarter of the February 15 contest.

“We really wanted to win this game because, we want to keep going in states,” said Hun junior forward and co-captain Sasha Moise. “I think our mindset was really aggressive, we were ready to win.”

Displaying her aggressiveness, Moise tallied 13 points with four rebounds and three steals as the Raiders cruised to a 54-33 win over Peddie, setting up a Prep A semifinal matchup at second-seeded Pingry on February 23.

“I think I have just gotten more confident with driving,” said Moise, reflecting on her performance. “I have always been a post. Catching the ball on the perimeter and driving is something I have been more confident about.”

Over the year, Moise developed a connection with post-graduate star Erin Maguire, who had 21 points and eight assists against Peddie.

“Most of our offense goes through Erin, she is a little bit older than us,” said Moise. “She is such a team player and she loves to help us out.”

As a co-captain, Moise looks to help out her younger teammates.

“I have taken more of a leadership role; it has been fun with the new freshmen and different sophomores,” said Moise. “Playing with Kiera [senior guard Kiera Hahn] and Erin, it is having a bond. It is really fun.”

The Raiders had fun this weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament, topping Lawrenceville 42-37 in the semis before falling 78-40 to the Blair Academy in the championship game. 

“We have had a hard season here, we had a rough end of 2021,” said Moise. “Going into 2022, we have had a good run. We have had some losses but we have really been playing as a team the last couple of games.”

Hun head coach Bill Holup liked the hard effort he got from Moise in the win over Peddie.

“Mentally, physically Sasha was there, she was ready to play and she was focused,” said Holup. “She is a hard competitor to face when she is in a zone. Erin and her have really clicked. Sasha has really developed over the past three years.”

Hun showed focus collectively in jumping out to the big first quarter lead.

“We were able to set the tone early; against Mercersburg on Friday (a 59-49 win) which was our senior night, we were a little bit complacent,” said Holup. “We were just talking about how it makes a world of difference if you jump out on top and take it to the other team instead of having to play catch-up. Our numbers are a little bit lower with Amira [Pinkett] out with injury. The girls have to step up and they have done a great job.”

Star guard Maguire has been doing a great job this winter for Hun.

“Erin is who she is, she steps up,” said Holup. “She is a legit player and we really look to her to do a lot. She is up to the task.”

Junior forward Addy Ruth and sophomore guard Anna Schweer also did some good things against Peddie as Ruth had nine points and seven rebounds while Schweer added four points.

“Addy has been much more aggressive,” said Holup.

“Anna is a nice young ball player, I think her learning from Erin and Kiera has really helped.”

With Hun, now 14-10, having surged in the 2022 portion of its schedule, Holup believes his squad can make a run to the title game in the Prep A tourney.

“I think we started 7-1 from January all the way up to about a week ago to the Hightstown game (a 54-51 loss on February 3),” said Holup. “We lost two games and then you mix Hill in there, we beat them by one at their place (52-51 on February 5). Three out of those four games, we didn’t play to the level we can. As long as the girls go in with the right attitude and focus, who knows what can happen. Usually good things happen.”

Moise, for her part, is looking for a good finish to the season.

“I think we are just going to keep doing what we are doing and keep playing as a team,” said Moise. “I think we are going to go far.”