The Haverford girls’ basketball team has had an impressive run over the past few years, consistently ranking among the top teams in the Central League. Between the 2022-2024 winter seasons, the varsity team never exceeded four losses in a season, with only three losses last season, and even went undefeated in 2023. They’ve won back-to-back Central League Championships, and are hoping for a three-peat this year. The 2025 winter season has gotten off to an exciting start. The Fords secured their first win on Tuesday the 10th in an away game against the Upper Darby Royals, with a final score of 57-36. The home opener on Thursday night solidified their reputation as top contenders in the Central League, as they swiftly defeated Ridley, with a final score of 43-21.
The Fords started the game off right with senior Rian Dotsey winning the tipoff against Ridley’s Moyin Ogbo. The energy was high, and it was immediately clear that the Fords had great communication across the court. Just thirty seconds into the game, after swift passes, smart cuts, and great callouts from the girls, Rian Dotsey scored the first two points of the night. Ridley took possession, and the Fords pressed full court, double-teaming Ridley’s players and showing off their defense. Within the first 40 seconds of the game, Ridley called a timeout, foreshadowing the dominance of Haverford’s defense throughout the night. During the remainder of the first quarter, Ridley struggled to get any shots off, missing layups and three-pointers while trying to get around Haverford’s coordinated and organized defenders. The first quarter ended with a score of 14-3, with 9 points from Rian Dotsey, 3 from Natalie Wright, and 2 from Megan Kelly.
Throughout the second quarter, the Fords continued to hustle on both offense and defense. Early in the quarter, Mya Foley made an excellent pass to Rian Dotsey for a full-court layup. Dotsey was fouled on the play and secured the extra point. The team has many incredibly skilled passers, proving just as vital as the top scorers. Haverford continued to turn the ball over, not letting up on their tough defense.
“We definitely have a close bond which helps us with our chemistry on the court. Because we are so connected as a group, we know how to correctly communicate and make good passes… for example, knowing Rian’s strengths, I know to throw the ball high, because with her height, she can easily catch it over the opponents and make a quick layup” said Foley.
The highlight of the quarter was when Rian Dotsey made a swift overhead pass to Natalie Wright for an easy layup, once again proving how hard the team has worked on smooth, quick passing. Ridley began to catch up a bit, with 7 points scored from Taylor Marsich, leading the Fords to call a brief timeout to regroup. “During the timeout, we definitely put a focus on limiting our turnovers and unforced errors. By doing that we were able to get better shots on the offensive end and build our lead” said Dotsey. After Ridley’s Alexis Heller scored 2 more points, the Fords did not let them score again until the end of the half. Some impressive three-pointers from Megan Kelly and Rian Dotsey helped the Fords maintain their lead, as well as two points from freshman Grace Maloney. At halftime, the score was 31-12.
The third quarter consisted of lots of turnovers, fouls, and energy from both teams. Layups from Rian Dotsey and Natalie Wright kept spirits high, and the defense continued to prove dominant against Ridley’s offense. The quarter ended at 41-16, with the Fords allowing only four points from Nadia Henkel of Ridley. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Fords had a 25-point lead but were still defending as if the game had just started. Ridley called two timeouts in the last five minutes, and were able to get up some final shots, with two points from Nadia Henkel, and a three-pointer from Caitlyn Shaak. The game ended with a score of 43-21, and the Fords had officially set the tone for a successful season, following the promising pattern of recent years.
The Haverford girls’ basketball team has proven itself a force to be reckoned with in the Central League. They dominate in height and speed, and their strategic and organized defense is what allows them to maintain such stark leads. “I’d say our greatest strength is our team chemistry. We’re all friends off the court as well, which is really important. We have each other’s back on the court so we all play with more confidence” said Dotsey. With a current record of 3-0, Haverford moves forward this season with high hopes.
