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| The Hill's 2011-12 girls' basketball team |
The Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team at The Hill has enjoyed great success in the first 13 years of coeducation. In that time, the team has established a record of 190 – 122, and this year’s team is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history.
Coach Simpson is excited about the amount of experience returning for what will be his fifth year at the helm. Thanks to the help of an experienced and energetic coaching staff, the Hill Girls’ Basketball program is re-emerging as a prep power. Hill Girls’ Basketball is one program with two teams – varsity and JV. This model has allowed the program to build from the ground up through the JV program while remaining competitive at the varsity level. The coaching staff will continue to work to build a strong program at both levels with the hopes this will help sustain success for many years.
Hill finished the 2010 – 2011 season with a record of 16 – 8. After a slow start, the team won 12 of its final 16 games en-route to an appearance in the MAPL Championship game and a Final Four appearance in the Pennsylvania State Independent School Championships. The 2011 – 2012 team is poised to carry last season’s momentum and take the next step by bringing home a championship.
Hill will be led by point guard Deanna Mayza ’13, who was a unanimous All-MAPL selection and a first team Pottstown Mercury All-Area selection last season, and also eclipsed the 1000 point mark while averaging 13.8 points per game. Mayza will be joined by another dynamic scorer in newcomer Claire Maree O’Bryan ‘12. Claire, a 5’10” wing, will team up with Mayza to provide Hill a potent 1-2 offensive punch. Two other key contributors this season will be Taylor Silar ’12, who brings tremendous energy and toughness, and Sara Graham ’13, who represents Hill’s biggest interior presence. Stand-out defender Shannon Ruane ’12 will once again assume her role as the defensive stopper, and will be asked to guard the opponent’s top offensive threat night in and night out. Monica Patel ’12 and Julia Sottosanti ’12 will add depth and experience to the team, while Kim Breeding ‘13, Christina Bell ‘13, and Megan Ruane ‘13 will contribute in Hill’s new four guard line-up this season. Breeding started some last year, and will be in the starting line-up this season. In addition to the wealth of talent and experience returning for the 2011-2012 season, Hill also welcomes talented young players Devandria Bernard ’14, Julia Hernan ’15, and Kennedy Gallagher ’15, all of whom will compete for varsity action this season.
The Hill competes in the prestigious and highly competitive Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), which includes prep-power Peddie School, as well as Blair Academy, Hun, Lawrenceville, and Mercersburg. In addition, Hill plays a competitive 25 game schedule. The Hill competes against teams from the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and as far west as Ohio. The schedule includes Pennington, Episcopal High School, and a number of Inter-Ac foes, including national power Germantown Academy. Hill will once again travel to Baltimore in December to play in the highly competitive Beast of the East Showcase (formerly known as the Breezy Bishop Classic).