Lessons Learned: Eagles Girls Start Quick, Finish Off Hawks

The gymnasium at Haddon Township High School has not always been a kind place to the girls’ basketball team. Over the years the Eagles have seen some bad losses there, including a 27-point defeat last season.

Head coach J McKeown remembers the losses well and stressed to his team the importance of getting off to a good start Thursday night.

“I have memories of being here, as either an assistant or a head coach, where we come into this gym and the first quarter is bad,” McKeown said. “I think last year it was 21-3 at one point.

"I told the girls before the game we have to punch them in the mouth right away. We have to get at them, where we feel like it is our game right away, and we are controlling it.”

The message was received.

West Deptford controlled the paint in the early stages of the game, building a 13-2 lead and holding a double-digit advantage for much of the contest in a 48-35 Colonial Conference win.

"That was really important to us,” said Megan Kirschling, of starting quick. “Especially not being home, you have to come out and put it in early. Once you are down, everyone knows it is harder. They did fight back, but we were able to calm down a little and put some shots in.”

Kirschling scored all nine of her points in the first half, helping the Eagles establish an inside presence. Danielle McKeown then got going from the outside, connecting on a pair of threes in the second half, on her way to a game-high 18 points. McKeown had been struggling with her shot the last couple of games, but an extra practice session appeared to be all she needed to relocate her touch.

“I haven’t been shooting great recently, but (Wednesday) I stayed after practice, shot the ball with (Megan) Knoblock, and it paid off today,” she said.

Senior Tarryn Bundy played just a few minutes, Thursday, due to illness. In her place Gabby Minnite stepped in and had one of her best performances of the season, pumping in nine points, while giving the Eagles a second body in the low post.

“Gabby stepped up real nice,” Kirschling said. “She works hard in practices so to have her come out and excel is great to see. She’s putting in the work so it’s nice to see her get the reward.”

West Deptford (18-7) has won a season-high five in a row and has been victorious in nine of its last 10 games, and tied a record for wins in a season with Thursday night's victory.

With the first round of the playoffs set to begin Tuesday—No. 7 West Deptford hosts No. 10 Deptford—the Eagles could not have picked a better time to be playing at their highest level.

“I think it was just a matter of getting everything to click together,” Kirschling said. “We knew we had the talent, it was just putting everything together and everyone playing as one.”

Danielle McKeown agreed.

“We have been working hard all season and it was just a matter of time before the hard work paid off,” she said. “I feel like, inside we have a fire.”