Defense has been a big talking point each day at practice since the pre-season began for girl’s basketball and it showed on Tuesday night when the Pirates used a stellar defensive effort to down Moorestown 36-25.
“Defense is a major focus for this team and our identity,” head coach Bret Jenkins said. “I have to give all the credit to the girls because I think it’s 99 percent effort. A few of them were under the weather today, yet they were diving all over the place.”
The win, number 12 on the season and 9 in a row, was the third in one week over a Group 3 school for the Pirates. Cinnaminson took down Northern Burlington Saturday and Cumberland last Tuesday.
Cinnaminson is now 12-2 overall and still in control with two games left this week before the power point cutoff Saturday.
“A lot of these girls always seem ready,” Jenkins said. “They’re so attentive on the bench and the effort they give in practice is incredible.”
Tonight was the fifth game this season that the Pirates held their opponents to less than 30 points scored and second time in a week.
“To hold Moorestown, a team with that many weapons and that well coached, to 25 points; it’s just impressive,” Jenkins said. “It’s a credit to them and the type of girls we have.”
The Pirates led 9-8 after one and 19-14 at the break. Despite the five-point lead at halftime, the Pirates really put this one in the books with a third quarter that saw them outscore the Quakers 12-4. The 12-4 run gave the Pirates a 31-18 lead after three.
Despite scoring just five points in the fourth, the Pirates were able to kill a ton of time off the clock with excellent passing, ball handling and employing the full court press that forced Moorestown into errant passes, traveling and other turnovers.
Senior Marisa DiLeo scored a game high 13 points, but it was the defense that she and the rest of her teammates played that led to a victory on Tuesday.
“We work harder because we want to win,” senior Alex Kane said. “We know we have to make steals and help on defense so people don’t get by us and go to the basket.”
“We learn about a team before we play them. We watch film. We know what we have to do; know their plays so we can stop them on defense.”
Kane was all over the court Tuesday night defensively, diving for loose balls, blocking shots and picking up steals.
“She gives us major hustle on both ends of the floor. Offensively, a lot of it comes from experience. She knows her role,” Jenkins said. “She handles the ball and gets it into spots where we want it. Defensively, her effort is just incredible. She’s a great role model for the younger girls.”
Junior Tori Robinson chipped in with seven points in the victory and helped lead the defensive charge.
“It doesn’t feel like we held them to as many points as we did,” Robinson said. “It was definitely by far the best defensive game we’ve had.”
With 2:08 left on the clock in the fourth and the Pirates leading 36-23, Cinnaminson came out of a timeout with the basketball and killed a ton of time by playing keep away with stellar passes.
“As a ball handler, you have to know the clock is important and you can’t make mistakes,” Robinson said. “The very ending is the most important part of the game.”
“I don’t doubt my team for a second. We’re in every game and we don’t give up, we just keep going. Every possession is the same.”
The Pirates return to the court on Thursday, February 4 with a home Freedom Division game against Burlington City. The Pirates defeated City earlier this season by a 58-41 score.
“We’re obviously happy with the run we’re on, but we’re not content,” Jenkins said. “We want to make sure that we don’t peak too early so we want to keep on improving.”
“The division means a lot to these girls. With it being a division game, especially at home, I don’t have to tell them too much about the importance of it. They treat every game the same.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Moorestown | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 25 |
| Cinnaminson | 9 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 36 |
Pirates Scoring
Marisa DiLeo – 13 (1 three)
Fiona Flynn – 10
Tori Robinson – 7 (1 three)
Anne O’Malley – 6
Cinnaminson Free Throws 6-11
