PASSING IT ON: Hun School girls’ basketball girls’ basketball player Anna Schweer looks to make a pass in a game last season. Hun is depending on senior guard Schweer to provide production and leadership this winter. The Raiders, who opened the season by falling 83-78 to George School (Pa.) on November 21, will be playing in the Hill School (Pa.) Girls’ Basketball Tournament from December 1-3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Hun School girls’ basketball team lost 83-78 to George School (Pa.) last week in its season opener, Sean Costello saw plenty of positives.

“I think that was as good a result as we could have gotten outside of getting the win in terms of the product we produced,” said Hun head coach Costello, noting that he was missing some key players due to injury for the November 21 contest. “We jumped on them. We brought a lot of energy, which was really good. We knocked down some shots, the kids got hot. I said before the game you want to win all of the games, but the first game is more about to see where you are at. It was about competing and setting the tempo, and we came out shining in those categories.”

Sophomore transfer Gabby D’Agostino came out firing in her debut for the Raiders, pouring in 47 points.

“She is very, very good, she is a point guard; it is the most points of any kid I have coached and I have coached really high level kids with AAU,” said Costello.

“I had a conversation with Gabby at the beginning of the year and I told her realistically she should be flirting with 30 a lot as fast as we are playing and as good as she is. She can score in a lot of different ways. She does shoot the ball well, she is really quick, and she can get to the foul line. She puts a lot of pressure on the defense. She is also a good passer. She is going to be a pretty highly touted kid. Her 47 points came on 13-of-20 shots, it was super-efficient.”

Along with D’Agostino, senior Anna Schweer and a trio of sophomores — Sam Jolly, Addi McNally, and Vicky Lubaczewski — will be leading the way in the backcourt.

“Anna is doing great. Tennis is her first sport; she is a good basketball player, she takes on a leadership role,” said Costello, noting that freshman Ria Sheth will also see some time at guard. “She does a lot of the little things, she rebounds. She can shoot the three a little bit and can handle the ball a little bit. She fills in a lot of the gaps. Sam is a really good sophomore, she hit four 3-pointers against George. She has taken a huge leap this year. Addi can shoot the ball really well. Vicky is another guard who is having to play a bigger position right now. She can shoot it, she defends, and she is strong.”

The Raiders boast two strong frontcourt players who are currently working their way back from injury in junior veteran Amira Pinkett and junior transfer C.J. Thomas.

“C.J. Thomas is very good. C.J. might be a little bit shorter than Amira, but they are both physical,” said Costello. “They are inside-outside players.”

With Hun returning to action by playing in the Hill School (Pa.) Girls’ Basketball Tournament from December 1-3, Costello is looking for his players to keep firing away from the outside.

“Shooting is going to be really important for us,” said Costello. “I know 78 is a lot of points, but I would love to live in the 70s. We have the ability to knock down shots like that. The kids play so well together, they are 100 percent on the same page. It speaks to the character of the kids that they are really connected. It is a good core group of kids, they play really hard for each other.”