December 11, 2009
Falcons seek repeat performance
Christina Gill (left) and Diane Forker (right) give Holy Family a formidable inside combo.
Click Here for photos from Holy Family Practice.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
BAYONNE – Off the court, Holy Family forward Diane Forker said that she and teammate Christina Gill are “the only ones who think the other one is funny,” and that “no one else thinks it’s funny.”
On the court, Forker and Gill are anything but a laughing matter for opposing coaches.
For most opponents, stopping one offensively skilled 6-footer is difficult, but when you have two skilled bigs like Forker and Gill, the task is nearly impossible.
“We pass really well together and we’re always there under the basket together,” Forker said. “So if I miss, she’s there to finish for me and if she misses, I’m there for the rebound.”
The two forwards are the centerpiece of a Falcons squad that went 20-5 and was undefeated in the HCIAA Seglio division a year ago.
It isn’t always easy for two bigs to coexist in the paint, but Forker, a junior, and Gill, a senior, have proven to thrive when on the floor together. It’s an on-court cohesion that date backs to when they, along with teammate Payton Micewicz started playing together in grammar school.
“We kind of work off each other all the time,” Gill said. “I feel like we always know where each other are on the floor. We’re very aware of each other, where we are and of our abilities.”
“She knows that I like to do certain things (on the court), and I know she likes to do certain things,” Forker added. “We always know where the other one is on the court. We don’t have to look at each other, we’ll just pass.”
While Gill believes that the two of them are interchangeable, they aren’t exact replicas. Gill is a little faster and can hit from midrange on offense, while Forker is the stronger of the two and a bigger force on the glass.
“Christina’s really quick for her size,” head coach Pat Longo said. “She uses her quickness for finishing plays. She’s a good finisher, especially from the left side.”
Forker and Gill are two of three returning starters for the Falcons. The other returning starter, junior guard Sam Sysak, gives Holy Family an added scoring threat from the perimeter.
Joining them in the starting lineup will be point guard Kaydee Murphy and guard/forward Bridget Brummer. Murphy may only be a sophomore, but Longo has confidence in her ability to run the offense.
“(Kaydee’s) quick,” Longo said. “She picks things up fast, she’s a smart kid. Her instincts are very good.”
Micewitz should also see heavy minutes when Holy Family switches to a big lineup. Other reserves expected to see significant action are seniors Samantha Ravelle and Raven Wise as well as a pair of freshmen in Alexis Ogbin and Shannon Folger.
After last season’s success, there will certainly be a target on the Falcons’ back this year and a source of motivation in Gill’s eyes.
Holy Family may be relying on youth, but Longo believes that with improvement on defense and better on-court chemistry, they will once again have the last laugh in the division.
“They’re young, yet there’s experience there so it’s a matter of coming together,” Longo said. “Game by game I think we’ll get stronger as the season goes along.”
