 |
| Sarah Minutillo makes the pass (Expositor Photo) |
The North Park Collegiate Trojans senior girls basketball team will get an idea of where it stands Tuesday night.
In one of the premier matchups in Brant County high school action this fall, the undefeated St. John's College Green Eagles (3-0) host the undefeated Trojans (3-0) at 5:30 p.m.
"I haven't seen them play at all this year," said NPC coach Andrea Hawkins about the defending Brant County champions.
"I know they're not as strong as they've been in the past but they have Kendra Van Leeuwen, who is phenomenal, and Megan Thompson coming back for them is a huge help."
Hawkins said she thinks the Trojans match up well against the Eagles.
"It will all depend on how we handle their pressure," she said.
"That's the one thing we struggle with every year we play them. I would hope we'll give them a game."
The coach said that the Trojans benefit from having Sarah Minutillo at guard.
"Sarah Minutillo is a phenomenal ball handler and sees the floor very well," said Hawkins, adding that the point guard is one of the best players she's coached in her nearly two-decade career at NPC.
The Trojans also lean heavily on fifth-year player Abbey Johnston, another guard.
"Sarah Minutillo and Abbey Johnston are phenomenal," Hawkins said.
"They defend well, they see the floor well, they handle the ball well.
"They're excellent leaders."
Last year, the Trojans finished third during the Brant County regular season and were eliminated in the semifinals.
Hawkins' roster this season includes just eight names, up one from last season.
While comfortable with a small bench, the coach said it can provide challenges.
"We love to run and we love to press and we're very good at it but, at the same time, I have to be cautious because we get tired."
Joining Minutillo and Johnston in the starting five are Gabby Marton, another returnee from last year, Brooke Cesar and Julia Rankin.
Hattie Osborne, a guard who was on the team a year ago but saw no action because of a broken finger, is back. She'll be used for many minutes, along with forwards Arden Grob and Sam Rossi.
With such a small group, Hawkins is working with junior coach Becky Polidori to make sure her team gets proper practice.
"One of the things we're doing differently this year is Becky (Polidori) and I are practising the junior and seniors together on Monday nights," said Hawkins.
"And then, on Wednesday nights, I have my junior boys from last year coming out and playing with us so we can push the girls a little bit."
Right now Hawkins is trying to get the team to work on communication and balancing the floor.
"We struggle initiating offence and boxing out on defence," she said.
With the potential for four Grade 12s to return next season - Minutillo and Rossi are almost certain to come back while Halle Sitarski may return after suffering a torn ACL and Marton is debating a return - Hawkins should be loaded in 2015.
However, the focus is squarely on the current season.
"Our goal is to make city finals," said Hawkins, who is being helped on the bench by former SJC and Brock University standout, Jessica Del Signore.
"It's a great group. They're competitive, they want to win and they work hard. They have fun and they get it. It's a really, really good group."
NOTE: It is the home team's responsibility to e-mail results to The Expositor's sports department - brex.sports@sunmedia.ca - as soon as possible after each game. Results submitted by 8:30 p.m. on game days will appear in the next day's paper.
Retrieved From: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2014/09/29/high-school-girls-basketball-senior-trojans-green-eagles-tip-off-tuesday
