By: centraljersey.com
Despite being a bigger part of the West Windsor-Plainsboro South girls basketball team last year than her freshman season, Gabi Hahn was pretty disappointed with her overall contributions.
"I wasn’t terrible," Hahn said. "But I was hoping I’d do better. I didn’t think I was contributing as well as I wanted. We still qualified for states and had a pretty long streak but I wasn’t playing terribly well."
Hahn can’t say the same about this season. Several times this season, she has carried the offense for the Pirates, who are coming on strong as they move into tournament time. The junior guard scored 21 points, including seven of the Pirates’ 23 points after regulation, in a 73-71 double-overtime win over Ewing on Jan. 21. Then last Tuesday, Hahn poured in 25 points in a 55-49 win over Notre Dame, their third win in four games. In her last five games going into Friday’s 57-45 loss to Allentown, Hahn was averaging 20.3 points per game.
"Obviously we’re giving up a lot of points also," said Pirates head coach Tom Lecorchick, "and if you’re going to give up as many points as we do, you’re going to need someone to put the ball in the basket. Her strength is she knows when we need her to put that ball in the basket. Her points, last game against Notre Dame, and the game before against Ewing, she’s putting points on the board in the fourth quarter, especially down the stretch with the foul shooting."
Gabi Hahn is the Princeton Packet Athlete of the Week.
"I think I’ve stepped up more as a leader and assumed the role of a scorer," Hahn said. "Last year, I felt more intimidated and not as comfortable taking a role as a scorer.
"It’s my junior year. People kind of expected me to be a leader. We have some strong seniors this year too, so that really helps."
Everything has started to come together, and Hahn is starting to heat up just in time for a big finish to her third year at WW-P South after transferring from WW-P North. She scored a career-high 33 points in a 74-68 win over Hamilton on Jan. 18. After a tough game for every Pirate against Trenton, she’s come back with two 20-plus games for the Pirates.
"It’s been good," Hahn said, "especially since we’ve been winning."
After winning three straight games to start the season, the Pirates hit a six-game losing stretch. Since then, they have put together wins in three of their last six games.
"I think we just got sick of losing and decided to be more disciplined," Hahn said. "I think we’re really working together and our team’s healthy at the moment and we’re playing solid defense."
Added Lecorchick: "One of the things I said to the girls is I’m really proud of them. No matter what, during that six-game slide, there wasn’t one game where they just said, we’ve lost or got blown out of a game."
Hahn has increased her efforts to be more aggressive at the offensive end this season, and she has no problems being in a bigger role this year, though she doesn’t feel any extra pressure.
"I think we have other people that are capable of scoring," she said. "Laura McCormick hit one of 3s that tied it and sent it into overtime against Ewing, so I don’t feel like I’m the only one that can score.
"We have a pretty well rounded team," she said. "It’s not like they completely rely on me. Scoring more than 25 points doesn’t seem necessary."
Hahn plays year-round and has been working to develop herself into an even more complete all-around player. She has been improved her weaknesses and her strengths since last season.
"I was a good shooter before," she said. "I worked on getting my shot off faster and shooting more consistently."
Hahn can score a variety of ways, whether from beyond the arc, driving to the basket, straight jump shots or from the foul line.
"I had an idea that she could score points," said Lecorchick, who is in his first season with the Pirates. "I’m pleasantly surprised she can score on the catch and shoot as well as setting herself up. She’s an aggressive getting-to-the-basket sort of person.
"Her total for the season is 201 points. We’re only halfway through the season. This could prove to be a pretty productive year for her."
Hahn is doing everything she can to ensure that the Pirates keep winning. After digging itself a bit of a hole, WW-P South has figured out the right combination. "I think we’re particularly motivated by the states cutoff," Hahn said. "I think we were 3-6 and needed to win five of seven in order to qualify for states. That started at the Hamilton game. We’ve been trying to win every game."
By winning their next two games, the Pirates will qualify automatically for the state tournament. Two of Gabi Hahn’s most recent big games helped bring WW-P South into that position.
"We needed her to step up," Lecorchick said. "At the end off the game, you can put the ball in her hands. She’ll make it count.
"She’s a very complete player. When we need a point, she’s definitely somebody that you want to have the ball."
