In this interview, CTB Sports Director Derek Darr sat down with the Hillsdale Christian Head Girls Basketball Coach Steve Hoffsummer to discuss their appearance in the playoffs.
The coach discusses the successful basketball season and the challenges of scheduling games due to existing conference schedules, while highlighting the girls’ enjoyment of the season.
“We had a good season last year. We’re fortunate that we had relationships build with these coaches in the area over several years. So when we started high school and we tried to put together a schedule, it was a little difficult because so many of the schools are in conferences and most of their games are set. But we did pick up a pretty full schedule [in] the first year, and then last year we added a few more schools…These girls have played great school basketball here in junior high, so we kind of knew how we sized up with our competition. But it’s been a fun season; I think the girls have enjoyed it.”
Hoffsummer was excited to share some girls who have stepped up this season, as well as outline some of their strengths.
“Emily Slaving is our 6’2′ post girl and she’s a load for a lot of schools. A lot of times she’ll have somebody 5’9′ guarding her. So we get her down inside; she can shoot the ball out on the perimeter, but I think that’s where most people would want her to play…she’s tough to stop down inside…Probably our best overall player is a 9th grader, Addie Watkins. She’s just overall skill. I mean, she can drive it to the bucket and score [and] shoot the three very well, so she’s pretty tough. And then if she gets a littler guard on her, she can go inside and play her back to the basket too. And then Amara Granberg, another 9th grader. She’s about 5’9′, but she plays a little bigger than that. She’s just a real strong girl…Hallie McCoy is our point guard, and she’s a real unselfish player. She’s fine with not scoring as long as we’re winning.”
