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Sports

Point Boro H.S. Girls' Basketball Can Be Proud of Another Title and Look Forward to Next Season

Four starters return in September

When David Drew started coaching the Point Borough High School girls' basketball team this past season, he knew his returning players were going to have to double their efforts if they were going to repeat as champions.

Following a surprise run to a NJ Sectional Championship in the 2009-10 season, Drew knew there was going to be a significant difference from being the hunters to the hunted in 2010-11.

“The girls who returned from last season set a tone at practice from day one this season,” said Drew. “They relished the role of being defending champions from the get go."

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Point Boro’s quest to repeat was led by a talented group of returning players including sophomore Kelly Hughes, who averaged a team-best 21.7 points-per-game and Kelsey Haycook, senior jack-of-all-trades guard.

Both girls relished the role as defending sectional champions.

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 “Those girls just flat out love to compete and love to win,” said Drew. “I’ll go to war with them any day of the week.”

 The dynamic pair of guards propelled the Panthers to a 25-5 record and to a second straight sectional title.

Ultimately, they were eliminated by perennial state power, Newark's Malcolm X Shabazz, in the Group II semifinal game, but only after a great run.

 “Overall, it was a very successful season,” said Drew. "We were very happy to be in the position to play Shabazz and it was a tribute to how hard the girls worked this year.”

 The future looks bright for Point Borough in 2011-12. 

The Panthers will return four starters but they will lose powerhouse Haycook to graduation. Haycook concluded her senior season averaging over 16 points-per-game.

 “She’s irreplaceable, it's impossible to find another Kelsey Haycook,” said Drew. "Without question, she is one of the toughest, strongest competitors I’ve ever seen and was a tremendous asset to our program.”

Following 48 wins and two sectional titles in back-to-back seasons, Drew acknowledged the challenge of sustaining excellence year in and year out.

 “It’s going to be even harder next season to get back here,” said Drew.  “The bulls-eye in 2012 is going to be squarely on our back. But we’ll be ready, one game at a time.”

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