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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Sparked by Fonseca's Competitive Fire, Hun Girls' Hoops Primed for Prep Finale
By Bill Alden
As a three-sport star at the Hun School, Jill Fonseca has played on a lot of good teams over the last four years. But she's never played on a team quite like this year's Raider girls' basketball team. As Hun has piled up win after win this winter, Fonseca and her teammates have grown closer and closer.
Last Wednesday, the team's talent and togetherness was on ample display as the Raiders cruised past Blair 62-43 in a state Prep A semifinal match-up to improve to 21-1.
Nearly every player on the roster made a contribution and the starters put as much effort in cheering from the bench as they did when they were on the court dismantling the Buccaneers.
In reflecting on her last ever home basketball game, Fonseca acknowledged that Hun's success this winter had even surprised her.
"This is the best senior season I could ask for," said Fonseca, who contributed 11 points in the rout of Blair.
"From the beginning of the season, I knew we would be good but I never expected this much out of the team. It's definitely been my favorite team ever. Winning makes you get along better and the team chemistry we have is amazing. We're really close."
Fonseca certainly relished beating old nemesis Blair for the third time this season. "Last year, they beat us three times with the last one being in the state semis," recalled Fonseca, who has been a standout for Hun in soccer and softball.
"I guess we just did to them what they did to us. We knew that beating a team three times is hard and we just wanted to come out strong."
The Raiders did just that as they utilized their customary stifling defense and some effective fast-breaking to jump out to a 22-2 lead over Blair.
After a brief lull in the second quarter, Hun went into overdrive in the early moments of the second half as they built a cushion of 56-31 going into the final quarter.
"Our game this year has always been to fast break," said Fonseca. "We catch them off guard by running a lot. I guess they had a lot of trouble catching up with us."
While Fonseca prides herself on her defensive prowess, her scoring production has increased as the Raiders have perfected their running game.
"I've been trying to get more offensive and open up my play because I'm quick and I can get down the court," said Fonseca, who is heading to Colgate this fall where she plans to play soccer. I pick up the fast breaks more because I know 'Tee [Shantee Darrian] will get it to me."
Hun head coach Bill Holup credits Fonseca with bringing a special feistiness to the Raiders. "Jill is a competitor," said Holup, whose club fell to powerful Peddie 62-40 last Sunday in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) championship game to move to 22-2 on the season.
"She is physical on the court and she does not want to lose. She brings that attitude. She's having fun but she's making sure that her girl isn't going to beat her. What we really look for from her is that toughness."
Hun's toughness was readily apparent as it exploited Blair's weaknesses in building its commanding early margin. "We knew that the previous two times we played them that their transition defense was not all that strong," explained Holup.
"We had Shantee down low on the 1-3-1 and we were able to get some of those rebounds. We did a good job of getting a lot of easy buckets."
In Holup's view, the leadership he has gotten from his corps of seniors which includes Fonseca, Darrian, Nadine Maeser, Ica Morales, Bis Fries, and Chelsey Baxter played a key role in getting the team on all cylinders this winter.
"They've been great," said Holup, noting that Fonseca, Morales, Fries, and Baxter helped the Raiders advance to the state Prep A finals when they were freshmen (Maeser and Darrian later transferred into the program).
"The kids really support each other. They are always cheering and making sure that everybody does well. That's one of the advantages of having senior leadership."
That leadership has resulted in the team being confident as they face the formidable challenge of toppling perennial state Prep A champion Peddie in the state title game on February 23 to be played at Notre Dame.
"Without a doubt, this is the best team I've ever had," said Holup, whose club's only losses this winter have come to Peddie.
"We're confident. We gave them a good battle in the first game. We've got to make sure that we take care of the ball and play good defense. We've got a good shot at it."
Fonseca, for her part, believes that Hun is up to the challenge. "We just have to stay sharp for four quarters and not get rattled because it's them," asserted Fonseca. "We know who they are and what they are. I just don't want the season to be over."
A win over Peddie would be leave Fonseca with a fitting finale to her favorite season.
