Couch in as new Hun starter

Sophomore adds inside presence for girls’ hoops

By: Justin Feil
   Cyndra Couch was new to the Hun School girls’ basketball team last year, but she got her first taste of the program long ago.
   Her sister, Cydnee, was a post-graduate who also played for the Raiders. The similarities in their games end there.
   "I came down to a game and saw her play," said Cyndra, who is six years younger. "My sister wasn’t as much of a basketball player. She could help me with anything, life and basketball.
   "I knew I was going to Hun when I was younger. I always wanted to come here."
   Last year could have caused Couch to question that as she played sparingly. The forward appeared in 18 games and averaged 3.0 points per game.
   "I didn’t really mind because I was just a freshman," Couch said. "I knew I wasn’t going to play every minute of the game. But I expected some time, which I got. When it got toward the MAPL tournament, I didn’t play as much."
   Couch used her limited minutes as part of her motivation in preparing for her sophomore season. She has improved enough to move into the starting lineup for the Raiders, who improved to 2-0 with a 56-51 win at Pennington on Tuesday.
   "She’s really stepped up a lot," said Hun coach Bill Holup, whose team was scheduled to play Episcopal Academy on Thursday. "From last year to this year, she’s had some major improvements. We needed another inside presence to help out with Emily Gratch. Cyndra has helped out with that definitely."
   Couch scored eight points in Tuesday’s win, and is happy to be contributing more for Hun. It’s what she was hoping to do after watching so much last year from the bench.
   "It was really tough," said Couch, a New York City resident. "It’s nice now because last year I thought I should play. It was the coach’s decision. I’m just happy I’m starting now.
   "I played AAU in the summer time. I practiced. I worked on my game with my dad. I was looking forward to starting."
   Even though she didn’t play many minutes, Couch helped Hun to a 20-7 season with her ability to help the team prepare. It was a reason the Raiders were able to sustain the standard set in recent seasons.
   "Last year, she didn’t play too much," Holup said. "She played sparingly here and there. She made for competitive practices. She came off the bench. She wasn’t considerably weaker as we’ve had in previous years when we’ve had second-team girls who are a lot weaker than those that start. Someone like Cyndra allows for competitive practices. She was right up there in terms of competitiveness. This year, she’s taken it up anther notch. She earned the starting spot."
   Couch has stepped into the place of athletic Mary Stinson. Couch also brings athleticism to the Raiders, who have size and skill. Her other strengths are also just what Hun was looking for this season.
   "It’s really been her rebounding ability," Holup said. "She just has a knack for rebounding. Offensively, she manages to keep the ball alive. Defensively, she has long arms and she’s good at boxing out. It’s something she had last year, at times. This year, she’s been able to put it all together and remain consistent.
   "If we didn’t have somebody to complement Emily inside, defenses could double team her and cause problems for her. With Cyndra, we have two forwards with size and the ability to rebound. It makes it more difficult to double either of them. Both of those girls have very good vision. They’re able to pass out from the post. You’re pretty fortunate if you have more than one person to score and pass from inside like Emily and Cyndra."
   Couch has noticed a difference in her game as well, improvements that have helped her adjust to being a high school starter. She had 13 points in the Raiders’ opening-season win.
   "I’m doing a lot better now," she said. "I’m more focused now. I can motivate myself better than last year. Overall, I got stronger. I’m helping out the team."
   Couch set to work in the offseason to improve her weaknesses. She has returned a more complete player. She has taken steps to be a more dangerous weapon in years to come.
   "Last year, we had Amanda (Sepulveda) as our point guard," she added. "She always told me I wasn’t growing anymore and I needed to work on my ball-handling and my jump shot. I really worked on it. I don’t really use it in my game, but I keep it in mind because I know I won’t be playing post position forever."
   Couch can definitely help Hun inside this year. The Raiders graduated Sepulveda, but return strong guard play in Ali Tartacoff and post-graduate Karly Grace, who comes from The Peddie School.
   "I think we’re more of a balanced team between offense and defense," Holup said. "This year, like last year, we have number of girls that can score. This year, with a little more size, and with Karly coming from a winning program like Peddie, she’s an experienced player that knows how to play defense. Our defense is doing better at balancing our team out. Last year, we were more of an offensive team. We’re able to balance the court better now."
   Hun had to show its defense off as Pennington used an aggressive man to slow the high-scoring Raiders offense. The Raiders were led by Gratch with 20 points and 16 from Grace.
   "Tonight was basically all about teamwork," Couch said. "That team was really athletic, they guarded the ball really well. We just needed to move the ball around. I think that’s what made us better. This team we played will help us out for the teams coming up. They’re much more difficult teams."
   Hun will host Penn Charter noon Saturday and Lawrenceville 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Raiders are hoping to build on their strong showing against an experienced Pennington squad.
   "Pennington won 20 games and returned their entire team," Holup said. "Many of the girls play soccer and are extremely athletic. I anticipated full-court man with pressing. They caused us at times to get out of our game. But even towards the end of the game, when it was close, I never lost confidence with the girls that were out there. I felt confident we’d be able to pull it out. We played through our rough spots and were never behind from the tip to the end."
   Couch is happy to have earned a spot in the starting lineup. It’s just what she anticipated, even if others didn’t.
   "I have to say she’s taken a quicker step than I expected," Holup said. "With her living in New York City, I don’t have much contact with her in the summer. She obviously doesn’t play on our summer-league team. Her father and grandfather run those leagues in New York City. She’s from a basketball family. I am surprised that she has stepped up from last year to this year like this."
   She has impressed Holup with her early play. Saturday, she’ll have a chance to show her talent to her sister, who will return to take in the game against Penn Charter. Cydnee Couch is certain to see her sister isn’t so little, and is quite a big part of the Raiders success.
   "The thing with Cyndra is she came as a freshman," Holup said. "So she has four years to develop in our program. She can get acclimated and find where she can help. She’s fit in nicely."