The girl’s basketball team won a dogfight with Haddon Township Thursday night with the South, Group 2 playoffs right around the corner.
The 39-35 win moves Cinnaminson to 19-7.
“This was perfect practice for us getting ready for the playoffs,” head coach Bret Jenkins said. “Monday, if we are in a close game, this will help us since it is so close to the playoffs.”
This was the third straight win for Cinnaminson over Haddon Township, including two victories last season.
“We matched up real well with them,” Fiona Flynn said. “They were just like us so we kind of knew how they would play. We worked really hard on defense tonight.”
The Pirates and Hawks came in with 18 wins apiece and are very similar teams, but Jenkins knew it wouldn’t be an easy game.
“We played them twice last year and they are almost the same team as last year,” Jenkins said. “There are very few people who can dribble, shoot, pass and drive like Grace Marshall (team-high 14 points for Hawks).”
Flynn led all scorers with 20, including 10 from the charity stripe. She had the Pirates first five points of the second half to retake the lead for good.
“We’re usually a second half team, so we had confidence going into the second half,” Flynn said. “They are a really good team, so going into the playoffs with a win is big.”
Kelly Kane had seven, including a big three late in the game to put the Pirates up by seven.
“I’m not really much of a shooter, I’m more of a defender,” Kane said. “I’m used to shuffling side to side because of soccer and lacrosse, so it adds up.”
“The three was obviously huge, but her main focus today was defense,” Jenkins said of Kane’s play tonight. “She played great on Marshall. She did a great job containing her. She did what she was supposed to do defensively and then added offense on top it. That was huge.”
Lindsey Roche chipped in 12 for Haddon Township.
Cinnaminson trailed 14-12 at the half, but used a 13-5 third quarter to take a 25-19 lead into the fourth.
“There’s something about that first half for us this year,” Jenkins said. “We have really struggled offensively in the first half. We went on a run and it gave us some momentum. Against a team like that, it is better to play with a lead because they are so good defensively.”
The Hawks kept trying to cut into the Pirates lead late, but Cinnaminson had an answer almost every trip down the court.
“This definitely boosts our confidence, knowing we can beat a decent team,” Flynn said.
Haddon Township drained a three at the buzzer to end the game 39-35.
“Jenks always reminds us to not let anything stop us,” Kane said. “We played like that today.”
The Pirates host Oakcrest Monday in the first round of the South, Group 2 playoff at 5pm.
“They have two really good players in their point guard and a post,” Jenkins said. “If we can contain those two, we should be ok. They change their defense a lot, so it’s something we have to be prepared for.”
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