Mainland team wanted to get another shot at Middle; COVID intervened
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
LINWOOD – When Mainland Regional’s girls basketball team took to the court last Thursday against Haddon Township, a game that wasn’t originally on the schedule, it was a relief that the Mustangs were on the court at all.
While Mainland cruised to a 48-19 win against one of the top teams in South Jersey Group I, it was the fact they got to play their first home game in two weeks that was important in the pandemic-shortened season.
“As a senior, it’s kind of hard being stuck at home, game after game,” said Lila Schoen, a senior on this year’s 7-2 team. “To get back on the court and play felt really good.”
For junior Camryn Dirkes, one of Mainland’s top players who missed all of last season with an injury, it has also been particularly difficult. Dirkes has been chomping at the bit to return to the court after starting as a freshman on Mainland’s Group III state championship team in 2018-19, but the coronavirus has wreaked havoc with the schedule.
“It was fun just to get out and play some other people,” said Dirkes, who had three third-quarter steals to ignite a big third quarter that put the game away for Mainland. “It was nice for a change. I had a lot of adrenalin going out there coming off a full day of school and then a night game. Once you get one steal it becomes easier after that and you just play off each other.”
While Mainland has had an impressive season in the first year after the graduation of all-time leading scorer Kylee Watson, who is now playing for nationally-ranked Oregon, each game has been cherished.
Earlier in the week, Mainland was preparing to play at home against undefeated Middle Township in hopes to avenge one of two losses this season. The Panthers edged the Mustangs 49-43.
The game, though, was called off because of the pandemic, possibly ending Middle Township’s season.
“It’s been weird,” Schoen said about the season. “All day Monday we’re waiting to play Middle then we heard it was canceled and we’re at practice. You have to play every game like it’s your last because you never know.”
It’s something Mainland’s coach Scott Betson has been trying to convey to his team all season. He said the girls have taken heed and so far the Mustangs have been available to answer the call for contests.
“We talk about it a lot,” Betson said after the Haddon Township game. “We talk about controlling the things that we can control. A lot of this is out of our control, so we talk to them about just appreciating the opportunity every time we get a chance to play.
“It’s a blessing to take the court. The fact that we’re still playing is a testament to the kids. They’ve made a lot of sacrifices giving up some social things they might have done in other circumstances. They want to keep playing so they go without that stuff,” Betson said.
It was supposed to be a season of adjustment because of Watson’s graduation, not the coronavirus. Watson left Mainland as the school’s all-time leading scorer, boys or girls, with 2,015 points. Scoring more than 2,000 is a rarity in high school basketball.
Mainland has responded nicely with junior Kaitlyn Boggs taking the post spot full-time with the return of Dirkes and Schoen emerging as a consistent scoring threat. Schoen scored 9 of Mainland’s 11 points in the first quarter against Haddon Township to jump to a quick 11-2 lead.
“It was just coming to me,” Schoen said. “Cam got some steals and I broke long and she got them to me. It just felt good. We pressed up high and were able to get some steals that way as well.”
Mainland’s defense was sensational, trapping constantly up high in the mid-court as Haddon Township struggled to get anything going. Haddon Township did not reach double-digits until the third quarter when the Mustangs were in firm control of the game.
“We like our depth, so that allows us to get up and down the court quite a bit,” Betson said of his aggressive defensive scheme. “We mixed in a little bit of man-to-man and zone and we picked up a few fouls. But I like the fact that we can go to our bench and keep playing and keep the pressure up.”
In the third quarter, Boggs asserted herself down low offensively with a couple of quick baskets, which then opened things up for Mainland’s outside shooters who found room uncontested along the perimeter.
That with three Dirkes steals ignited a 20-4 rally to give the Mustangs a 37-13 lead going into the final quarter.
“The third quarter for us was huge,” Betson said. “That’s where we put it away. (Boggs) got some of those touches early on but didn’t quite finish them, but this time she did. We bounced her around a little bit in the first half because of fouls. It’s something we don’t usually do but we wanted her around in the second half. We went to her the first several times in the third quarter and she finished strong.”
Betson praised Dirkes for her defensive effort along with setting up her teammates for scoring opportunities.
“Cam’s a terrific athlete and basketball player,” Betson said. “She can do a lot of things on both sides of the court that other players can’t do. She’s a great all-around player. She’s a primary ballhandler, she can shoot and get to the rim.
“She struggled early but she took over the game on defense in the third quarter. Great players always find other ways where they can affect a game,” he added.
Mainland played Holy Spirit on Monday and will close out the regular season with two home games – Cedar Creek on Thursday and Millville on Saturday.
Betson said, though, the way the season has gone, nothing is engraved in stone. The players clearly understand that as well.
“It’s great to be back and playing with each other,” Dirkes said. “We still want to be careful and take one step at a time. You never know if it’s going to be your last game.”