By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Louise Borja did not take a break when the Hillsborough High School girls’ basketball season ended last year.
The Raider guard knew that this year she would have more of an opportunity to play, and she wanted to be ready.
”Last year, knowing the people we were losing, I knew I had to step up,” said Borja, who is a junior. “As soon as the season ended, I began my year of AAU. I got to the park every day. I wanted to try to improve my game so when the season did start up, I’d be more beneficial to my team.”
Borja has given Hillsborough a big lift, bigger than anyone would have projected. Her scoring has taken a big jump, almost tripling from her sophomore year.
”I thought she was going to do well this year,” said HHS head coach Barrie Foley. “I didn’t realize she’d be putting up as many points as she has been. She’s been doing a really nice job. I thought she’d be putting up 7-8 points a game. She’s been putting up double figures.”
Borja had 11 points as the Raiders snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 56-30 win over Colonia on Saturday. Allison Wickman led Hillsborough with 13 points, and Becca Barglowski gave them a third player in double figures with 10 points.
”It felt really good,” Borja said. “It picked our spirits up coming off a seven-game losing streak. We were really happy about it.
”I think our intensity was really good. We really moved the ball around. We played really good ball pressure. That gave us a couple steals. That helped us in a 24-point stretch.”
The Raiders were able to run away with the non-conference win. Playing some of the toughest teams around in the midst of their conference schedule has them primed to be at their best.
”We have Phillipsburg, Rutgers Prep, Gill, and we had Franklin last week,” Foley said. “It’s a little rough. We saw when they did the schedule that these weeks would be a little rough. It was nice to get the win.
”That’s one good thing about our conference,” she added. “We play in a really good conference. When we play some teams out of conference or not in our division we’re able to do what we need to and come up with those W’s. That’s the one plus side of playing really good teams. The girls are able to improve and see that when we play outside our division.”
The Raiders have a number of new pieces in their lineup. Borja is one of three new starters along with Barglowski and Samantha Boyer. Borja is starting for the first time in her career and has adjusted to her increased role.
”I’m a bigger leader than last year,” Borja said. “My voice on the team has a bigger impact. Last year, I kind of sat back and listened to what the upperclassmen had to say to me. I’m trying to encourage the team to push their hardest and do their best.
”I do get a lot more playing time this year,” she added. “My chemistry with my teammates since I’ve been playing with them the past couple years, it helps. They’re able to see me when I get open and get me the ball. I try to get it to them too. I try to be successful for my team.”
Borja began the New Year with a bang. She helped the Raiders to their first win of the year with 18 points — 12 from the foul line — as they stopped Bridgewater-Raritan. Two nights later, she scored a career-high 29 points in a loss to Franklin. In that game, she showed her range with four 3-pointers.
”Usually, it depends on the game on the defense they’re playing,” Borja said of her scoring. “If they’re playing zone or off, I’ll get more shots. If they’re playing closer defense, I’ll drive and try to get an and-one. Free throws are a big way I score points. I’m more of a driving-game player, but I’m not afraid to shoot the ball if it’s a good shot.”
Borja is benefiting from a year of varsity experience. She picked up plenty while going through last season, and it has carried over into this year.
”I definitely learned how you need chemistry as a team to really be successful,” Borja said. “You need to bond and get to understand how everyone plays and move the ball around. Ball movement is a huge key in scoring offensively and being a group collectively on defense, and knowing who you have is a huge point in playing good defense.”
The Raiders are making strides, even if the wins aren’t always coming. They started to develop some chemistry in the final weeks of December.
”We had six games in before the New Year,” Foley said. “We weren’t able to pick up a W with those, but that got everyone into the swing of things. Instead of three or four games, we got six games in so everyone knows their role and who’s going in when and who’s starting and their role. It’s got us off to a good start in that way.”
Borja looked ready to start when the season began. Her offseason work paid off for her.
”She definitely improved,” Foley said. “I know she wants to play in college. She saw she needs to step up. Her and Kelly Lankey were sophomores that put in a lot of playing time last year. Your first year on varsity, it’s kind of a learning year. For the two of them, they’ve stepped up. Louise has done great. She’s been putting points up on the board, playing petty good defense and she’s helping out leadership wise on the floor too.”
The Raiders have had to adjust their lineup recently. They lost Boyer to injury and Natasha Anglin has stepped in, and she helped Hillsborough in their win over Colonia.
”I definitely see improvement especially from the beginning of the season until now,” Foley said. “Natasha is only a freshman and she’s coming in and starting now and putting in a lot of minutes. It takes a lot of time to get used to the varsity level, it takes time to get used to the speed of the game. Now they have it down. Now it’s just all the little things we have to get under control.”
Borja agreed: “I feel like we are developing. We all come to practice trying to get better. We learn from each loss. (Saturday’s) win gives us a chance to see if we run things right, if we run the floor, and if we move the ball, we can be successful in our conference. We can be successful if we execute and run what we’re trying to do.”
The Raiders put everything together for a convincing win over Colonia. They pushed the ball up the court, they got defensive stops and they shared the ball on offense while executing their sets. It is something that they were hoping to build on as they resumed conference play with Gill St. Bernard’s scheduled for Tuesday.
”We still need to work on our offenses, rebounding, some of the little things,” Foley said. “We mainly need to work on our consistency. We do it some games. If we play a whole game of what we’re supposed to, things could turn out in our favor, even if don’t put the ball in the bucket.”
The Raiders continue to strive to be a better team. They are a work in progress.
”I need to get better at everything honestly,” Borja said. “I don’t think there’s ever a time I don’t have to get better at anything. Ball-handling, seeing the ball more (on defense), getting in the paint to grab some boards, being a more consistent shooter. I can work on it all.”
Borja has made significant strides particularly in the last year, though she’s always had a passion for basketball. She has been focused on basketball since she gave up other sports in fifth grade.
”College basketball is my biggest goal,” she said. “I would do almost anything to play in college. It’s what I love to do. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
She changed AAU teams this year to the New Jersey Rising Stars and that has helped her develop her game. And it is showing for her when she takes the court for Hillsborough.
”I’m more confident when I play,” Borja said. “I’m a more composed player. I don’t get down when I miss a shot. If I miss a shot, I don’t let that hang over me. I get back up. I’m trying to provide for my team and make us successful. I’m trying to improve so we get the wins in the future.”
Borja is hoping those wins come more frequently to finish her junior year off well. The Raiders face Ridge today.
”We just have to be optimistic and execute,” Borja said. “I think if we do, we’ll be successful.”
