By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Chris Hoffman knows building the foundation for a successful girls basketball program at Robbinsville High is a work in progress.
But he also has seen enough enthusiasm for the sport in the school and around town to know that successful future is not that far off.
”I knew when I got hired that it was a soccer and softball town,” said Hoffman, who begins his third season as the Ravens’ head coach when the team opens up at Steinert on Friday. “We just want to be a part of it. I can tell by some of the work being done in the summer that the interest is there. This year we played in the Belmar Summer League and we had seventh and eighth graders and incoming freshmen at every game. In years past that wasn’t happening.
”At our home games the fifth, sixth and seventh graders are there who want to be basketball players at Robbinsville. They are involved during the games. It is going to take time but it is going to get better. It wasn’t going to happen overnight.”
After qualifying for the state tournament with a .500 record in Hoffman’s first season, the Ravens struggled last year. With plenty of experience back this year he would like to see the program take a step forward.
”We overachieved the first year and then last year with no seniors we were young,” Hoffman said. “This year we have one senior. I hate to still use the ‘we’re young’ excuse. We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing varsity last year and we could say we’re still rebuilding. But we don’t want to look at it that way.”
Julia Kardos, who has been with the varsity since she was a freshman, is the lone senior for the Ravens. Junior Kaitlyn Herbert and sophomore Courtney Allen also return as starters for the Ravens.
”Last year was beneficial because they did get that experience and will get it again this year,” Hoffman said. “We have some new players this year who are going to gain some experience. We want to do well now but we still might be a year or two away. We have girls who came in and thought they would play freshmen or JV but are going to be up with the varsity.”
Two other players who saw playing time last year return in junior Jasmine Page and sophomore Nicole Cox. Other players will step up and contribute, but right now the Ravens will lean heavily on Kardos, Herbert and Allen.
”I think the biggest issue with them is through the first couple scrimmages we have been telling them they are being too unselfish,” Hoffman said. “They are such nice kids and I am telling them it is your team now it is OK to take a few more shots. No one is going to get mad if they take 10-15 shots if they are good shots. They need to take them for us to be successful.”
Hoffman is hoping his team takes a few steps forward this season and gets closer to the .500 level the Ravens achieved in his first season.
”We always have same goals,” he said. “Last year we struggled but we want to at least be .500 by the state cutoff. Even though the rules a different and you don’t have to be .500. You always want to make the states but you want to make it the right way.
”During my first year we were 9-9 at the cutoff and made it. Last year we were 2-16 at the cutoff and would have been the 16th seed but we felt like that wasn’t a record good enough to earn a spot. We want to have a good record at the Mercer County Tournament cutoff. We don’t want to be in the play-in game again this year. Want to compete for the division, which is hard with Hopewell Valley, Ewing and Allentown. We want to compete and be in games which I think we can do.”

