Hampton seniors Ali Collins, Laryn Edwards ready for their close-up

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 27, 2017 | 12:26 AM

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When senior captain Jenna Lafko went down late last season with an ankle injury, it did more than test the Hampton girls basketball team. It offered a preview of what was to come.

Guards Ali Collins and Laryn Edwards, who have shined since their sophomore season as double-digit scoring threats, were thrust into leadership roles late in their junior campaigns.

“I think those two have been ready and are relishing the opportunity of a leadership role,” third-year coach Tony Howard said. “At that point, those two had to elevate their games and leadership to a new level.”

Although Lafko sat out a handful of games late in section play before returning for the playoffs, the de-facto trial run nearly went off without a hitch. The team finished 22-4 en route to its fifth section title in six years.

With the torch officially passed, the two senior leaders will be counted on for even more on a team with one other returning player with varsity experience.

“It's been important these past couple weeks and upcoming weeks,” said Edwards, who led the team in rebounds and assists last winter. “Just telling them not to be scared or nervous. Don't panic when you get the ball. It's a different pressure in varsity. Think things through. Don't force things.”

Edwards and Collins have been playing together since elementary school. They play AAU together, and both recently committed to play in college at Loyola (Md.) and Seton Hill, respectively.

Senior Brooke Fuller, who is 6-foot and saw extensive playing time last season, will add a new dimension to an offense that was known to press tempo hard with three standout guards the past two seasons.

“We're still going to have the same concepts,” Howard said. “We still want to play fast and speed teams up, but we're probably going to try to do that a little bit less and a little bit better.”

Much of the offense will go through Collins, who led the team last season with 15 points per game, and Edwards, who will be at her natural point guard position, where she is expected to play in college.

Howard praised Edwards, who sacrificed her scoring abilities for the better of the team last season. That might change this winter.

“Last year was different because we had so many scorers,” Edwards said. “I was always looking for the extra pass to find someone more open than I was. This year, maybe I'll take the shot.”

Howard isn't concerned about distribution issues, even if only three of his five starters are set.

“The thing about those two is they will make the right basketball play,” Howard said of Collins and Edwards. “I think they are very hard to guard one-on-one, so if teams overhelp, they can rely on their teammates to make shots. But they are also high-volume scorers and are going to look to score.”

Fuller, who can use her size to pull defenses away from the perimeter, will be expected to score more. Howard likes Fuller's post moves but also complimented her mid-range shooting game.

“We're going to rely on her a little more this year,” said Howard. “Establish a post presence with her. Last year we tried to keep it open with our guards. … This year, we're going to try to run our offense to the high post.”

Still, if Hampton has any chance of getting past the WPIAL 5A semifinals — a roadblock Howard and his team haven't been able to get past the last couple of years — it will mostly fall on the shoulders of Edwards and Collins.

First, the team will look to navigate through a competitive Section 4-5A, where rival Mars awaits after returning two standout players in senior forward Lauren Wasylson, an Xavier commit, and junior guard Tai Johnson.

“I definitely feel like we have a better team, and we can get over the hump we haven't gotten over the last two seasons,” Edwards said.

Devon Moore is a freelance writer.

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