The 2018-19 girls’ basketball season may be a distant memory this winter at Bordentown Regional High School.
Bordentown quickly vanished last year’s finish when the Scotties opened this season with four straight victories.
Bordentown posted a 9-16 record, including a 1-7 finish in the division a season ago.
The Scotties kicked off the season with a 59-17 victory over Medford Technical High School at home on Dec. 19; a 56-7 decision over Lindenwold High School at home on Dec. 27; a 47-30 victory over Pennsauken High School at home on Dec. 28; and a 40-33 triumph on the road against Maple Shade High School on Jan. 2.
The victories against Medford Tech and Lindenwold came during Bordentown’s holiday tournament that the Scotties won.
Although Bordentown’s unbeaten run to open the season ended with a 48-31 loss at home against Northern Burlington County Regional High School on Jan. 3, coach Bill Lloyd said he is confident that his squad can come together now that these players are older and more experienced.
“Last year, I had a bunch of girls with no varsity experience. I had freshmen and sophomores who had never played high school basketball, and I had juniors with no varsity experience,” Lloyd said. “They are coming back with a year of experience, and we are trying to build off our losses last year, so we are teaching them how to win. This year is about building off of that and learning.”
The Bordentown coach pointed out that part of the “learning” process this season will focus on two components to improve: handle pressure and how to finish.
Looyd stated that four particular players he will be calling upon to lead the way for Bordentown this year will be Ciara Conover, Aja Reeves, Marissa Drew and Oshynn Cosom. In the first five games this season, the quartet already have a combined total of 164 points scored.
Although Lloyd said he was content with the squad’s early performances, he is now focused on how to maintain the success.
“We are off to a good start. That’s big. We came out and won our first four games, won our Christmas tournament, so it’s about figuring out how to win these games,” he said.
The Scotties will prepare to get their season fully underway with a string of three games against Burlington County Scholastic League opponents, which will include a tipoff against Willingboro High School on Jan. 10 at Willingboro, a neighboring rivalry matchup at home against Florence Township Memorial High School on Jan. 13, and a home game against New Egypt High School on Jan. 14.
As Bordentown gets set to take on its league opponents though, the coach stressed that one of the consistent highlights throughout his 12 years at the helm of the varsity squad has not necessarily come from his team’s success or obstacles, but their ability to progress on and off the court.
“I like watching them grow as players. That’s the biggest thing,” he said. “I think that sometimes we forget about that. You are watching these girls mature and grow up, not only as people, but as players.”