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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Stinson's Diversified Game, Defense Help Hun Girls' Basketball Win ESCIT
By Bill Alden
Mary Stinson grinned broadly as she clutched the gleaming silver trophy the Hun School girls' basketball team earned last Wednesday after winning the Eastern States Christmas Invitational Tournament (ESCIT).
The 6'0 junior forward played a big hand in the Raiders taking home the silverware as she scored 11 points to help Hun cruise past Northern Burlington 48-21 in the championship game.
In Stinson's view, it was Hun's defense that made the difference as the squad won its third tournament title so far this season.
"The reason we got so far ahead was our defense," said Stinson, who was named to the All-Tournament team for the event which was held at McCorristin High. "As our offense lags, our defense picks up. I think that's what pulled us through today."
The Raiders put on a defensive clinic in routing Northern Burlington. Utilizing a stifling full-court press, Hun built a 16-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Keeping up the pressure, the Raiders took a 27-4 lead into the dressing room at the half.
In the second half, Hun cleared its bench as it cruised to the win which improved to an unblemished 9-0 mark.
Stinson flashed another grin as she reflected on Hun's sizzling start. "That's great," said Stinson, in assessing the team's 9-0 record.
"First of all, we're playing together well, most of us have been on the team a while. We have some newcomers who have just added to the spark. Our leadership is good, we have six seniors. It's a more unified team from last year to this year."
Stinson has worked hard to diversify her game so as to be more valuable to the team. "I'm able to get the ball dumped in down low and be there," said Stinson, who hit four free throws and a three-point shot in the win over Northern Burlington.
"I wanted to bring my game outside more so I could swing instead of just being inside all of the time. I'm happy with my play; I just have to keep working hard."
Hun head coach Bill Holup believes that Stinson's hard work has resulted in her developing into an inside-outside threat.
"Mary has expanded her game," said Holup, who also got 11 points last Wednesday from Shantee Darrian, the tournament MVP.
"She's a lefty and it's a little bit awkward to defend against. She's physical and takes it strong. She'll even pop a jumper when we need it."
Holup acknowledges that it is his team's strong defense that has helped it pop out of the gate to the best start in his six-year tenure with the program.
"Defense has been winning us these games," said Holup, whose team has now won two straight ESCIT titles.
"I'm happy with the intensity they bring to the defensive end. They have speed and they want to play defense. Most teams, most years, typically don't like to play defense. What this team has learned is that if we play good defense, we get the easy baskets."
As the Raiders enter the meat of their schedule with the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) battles that lay ahead, Holup knows that his team's offensive execution has to improve.
"We didn't look good today trying to run our half-court offense," conceded Holup, whose team starts MAPL play this week when it plays at Blair on January 6 before hosting Mercersburg Academy on January 8 and perennial state prep A champion Peddie on January 11.
"It's something we need to work on. We're not going to be able to run on every team we play, especially when we start playing the MAPL teams. We need to have more patience on offense. We have to work the ball and not panic when we get pressure." Stinson believes the Raiders will be up to the challenges they will face in league play. "I think we'll be really confident coming into the MAPL," asserted Stinson, who helped Hun's field hockey team reach the state Prep A final this past fall. "Peddie will give us a good challenge. We're definitely a lot closer to them. We're going places."
If so, Stinson and her teammates may get the chance to clutch some more trophies this winter.
