Seniors keyed Delaware Division title surge
By: Rudy Brandl
Jim Reese issued a challenge to his senior girls prior to the 2001-02 basketball season. The much-heralded group had enjoyed plenty of success in their athletic endeavors but hadn’t broken through for any championships. This was their last chance to capture a basketball banner and Reese was counting on the upperclassmen to come up big.
The Lady Raiders delivered, sweeping through the Skyland Conference Delaware Division schedule with 14 straight victories to win their first title since 1998. Hillsborough left the rest of the division in the dust with an outstanding run that included a school-record 18-game winning streak.
"I didn’t expect us to go 14-0 in the conference," Reese admitted. "A lot of people were picking Hunterdon Central at the beginning of the season. We were in a lot of close games and most of the time we came through."
Hillsborough completed the season with an outstanding 21-3 record, but two of those losses came in the final three games. The Lady Raiders fell short of Immaculata in the Somerset County finals for the fourth straight year, then beat South Brunswick in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs before being knocked out by Freehold in the sectional quarterfinals.
Senior point guard Jenn Geigert, a key member of all four county runner-up teams, took a positive view of the big picture after the crushing loss to Freehold.
"I’m so thankful and proud that I got a chance to be on such a great team," Geigert said. "Most of the teams in the state don’t ever get the chance to do all the things we did."
The Lady Raiders won the Delaware Division crown with such ease that it might have been lost in the shuffle of the disappointments late in the season. HHS played one of its worst games of the year in the county finals and lost its key inside presence in the state playoff setback.
Freehold took command after senior power forward Barrie Quick left the game with a broken collar bone in the final minute of the third quarter. It was an unfair way for such an outstanding group to end the season, but the players and coaches accepted it in stride.
Hillsborough still had chances to win the game in crunch time but fell short for one of the few times all year.
"To go 21-3 is a tremendous accomplishment," Reese said. "A lot of our games were up for grabs in the fourth quarter. We came through in most of them. Three times we didn’t."
The HHS girls started the season with key divisional victories over North Hunterdon and Hunterdon Central, then lost an overtime battle to Voorhees just before the holidays. Hillsborough rebounded with a dominant effort in the South Brunswick Tournament, starting its 18-game win streak with a pair of blowout victories to claim the holiday title.
Hillsborough continued its divisional dominance in January, running the table during the month to take control of the Delaware race. Key victories over North and Central at the end of the month basically locked up the division title.
Reese often talked about the team’s balance and plethora of weapons as the key factors. This team had more ways to score and more people to do the damage. These traits, in addition to the experience level, made the lady Raiders successful.
Geigert did a fine job running the floor this winter and also led the team in scoring with a career-best 11.5 average. She became more dangerous from 3-point land and started the season with a monster 26-point performance against North. Geigert also led the team in assists and steals.
Quick experienced some injury problems late in the season but played a huge role in the team’s quest for a county title. She averaged 10.5 points per game for the season but 14.5 in the two county games. Quick’s injury most likely prevented the Lady Raiders from getting a shot at eventual CJ 4 champ Trenton in the sectional semifinals.
Tiara Simpkins enjoyed her biggest year in all departments. The flashy senior swing player could handle the ball, drive to the basket and shoot from the outside. She averaged 8.5 per game and played fabulous defense all over the court.
Janet Henry, the fourth senior starter, came on strong in the second half of her first full-time varsity season. Henry posted several double-doubles down the stretch and finished the year averaging six points. She played some of her best games in the county tourney, especially in the quarterfinal victory over Watchung Hills.
Sophomore Jessica Rainey, who saw varsity action off the bench last winter, emerged as a valuable starter this year. Rainey averaged 7.1 points but piled up numbers in all statistical categories. It wasn’t unusual for Rainey to finish a game with at least five points, rebounds, assists and steals. She’ll be the key player on next year’s squad.
Guard Allison Kutch and forward Sara Lavell were the first two players off Reese’s bench. Kutch proved she could hit the big shot, nailing a huge three to tie the Freehold game in the waning seconds of regulation. Lavell provided an active presence in the paint. Both will be asked to do much more next year.
The Lady Raiders will lose a handful of key senior backups. Guard Stacey Lindle and forward Amanda Morrison provided valuable experience off the bench the past few seasons. Lauren Page also saw some action as a reserve player in the front court.
Rainey, Kutch and Lavell will be the leaders next year. Others eligible to return include Carolyn McNamara, Christine Rash, Chrissy Yard and Jessica Szymanski.
"Some people have got to step up," Reese said. "I know they’ll work at it, but I’m not sure who will play. With all the people leaving, we have question marks for next year."
The Lady Raider Class of 2002 was a special group, one that deserved all its success and the long-awaited championship banner. Although fans won’t get to see them play together on the same basketball court, these girls will remain in touch.
"We had a great group of girls," Geigert said. "We made such a strong bond and we’ll be friends forever."