Following a 13-13 season, the Lady Raiders basketball team looks to improve in their 2019-2020 season. Returning seniors Elissa Nsenkyire, Allison Watson, Dani Muntone, Grace O Connor, and Caitlian Kolesar will look to make the push to become a winning team. Four of the girls have already committed as well to continue their basketball career in college. Nsenkyire is attending Stevens University, Muntone is going to East Strasburg, O Connor is heading to Washington and Lee University, and Kolesar is going to Suny Plattsburgh. The four of them will look to lead Hillsborough into a successful year. 

Last season, the team struggled with in-conference play, only going 3-8 in the conference, with their three wins being against Watchung Hills, Hunterdon Central, and Immaculata. With a lot of quality players returning, the team looks like it will have a powerful starting lineup. They know the key to having a good season would be starting off with a big win. 

“This year we have to work collectively as a team,” Nsenkyire said. “We all have to play with maximum effort and maintain positive energy to play to the best of our abilities.”

The team is coming into the season with a different mindset, looking to change their past habits. Some of the younger girls who will be looking to make an immediate impact are sophomores Morgan Hodorowski and Olivia Gaspar.  Both girls played a lot of minutes on varsity during their freshman year, helping their team in great ways and providing the team with a bright future.

Coach Ian Progin believes their strengths lie in their experience, with 10 returning letter winners, 8 of which gave the team a solid amount of production last year.

Coach Progin certainly has some games circled on his calender, as he is looking forward to the games against their conference rivals, the holiday tournament, county tournament and potentially the state tournament.

When asked about the goals for the upcoming season, Coach Progin focused on leadership and togetherness.

“Leadership from the senior players and for us to truly be a team about US and WE is the goal,” Progin said. “I hope to get the most out of each player and the overall team.”

The girls open up their season against Gill St. Bernard’s, and follow with their annual Holiday Tournament.  With an early tough schedule, the girls will have to keep a positive mindset if they want to make a run in states.