As part of our look into South Jersey girls’ basketball, we want to know a little bit more about some of the region’s top players. Haddon Township's Grace Marshall recently talked over a variety of things with freelance reporter Daniel Spevak.

DS: How long have you been playing basketball?

GM: I started in second grade when I was eight.

DS: Who got you into playing?

GM: My mom and my uncle both played when they were younger and all throughout high school. One day I just decided I wanted to play and tried out.

DS: You've had double-digit points in almost every game this season. How do you remain so consistent as the year goes on?

GM: I just tell myself during games to calm down and focus hard. To me, it doesn't really matter about scoring. I just want to play my best and make good plays.

DS: It's been a little bit of an up-and-down season so far for Haddon Township but you've turned it around a bit. What do you think it will take to string together a long winning streak?

GM: I think teamwork is what we will have to work the most for us. We're all kind of different players and play different sports and hang out with different people.

DS: What's it like playing under a coach with the reputation Tom Mulligan has?

GM: It's really cool because I heard so many stories when I was in middle school. All I wanted to do was play for him. It's really cool that I get that opportunity.

DS: What's the most important thing he has taught you?

GM: This year he's stressed a lot about how it's not all about the plays, it's more about the players. We have to do it. Plays aren't the things that are going to get us wins. It's us.

DS: On a team that doesn't have a lot of seniors, how does it feel being a leader only as a junior?

GM: We're all really close so it's easy to be a leader because they listen and they look up to us.

DS: What's your favorite school subject?

GM: I like math.

DS: How do you like to get yourself pumped up before a big game?

GM: I like to listen to music. Our warm-up has a lot of good songs on it.

DS: Haddon Township is two seasons removed from its last sectional title. What do you think it takes to get back there this year?

GM: Teamwork like I said and I think defense is really going to have to work for us. Really getting down and digging deep to stop the players from scoring. For offense, we're going to really have to work together to move the ball around. We're probably going to have to get in the paint more because we can't rely on just outside shooting.

Daniel Spevak; (856) 486-2424;

Don't miss a thing
