Staff Report
The Egg Harbor Township girls basketball team has six sophomores and three freshmen on the varsity roster, so it would be easy to think that the Eagles came into this season maybe a year or two away from being really competitive.
But under new coach Cameron Bell — formerly a highly successful boys basketball coach at EHT — and with the guidance of a handful of dedicated seniors, the Eagles are right in the thick of things in the Cape-Atlantic League with a 14-6 record with a couple of regular-season games still on the docket in early February.
Two of said seniors are Mariah Newman and Skyler Wood, who were role players the last few years on very good teams that featured the likes of Ava Kraybill and Avery Harding, among others. Newman and Wood now are impact players and team leaders helping to usher in a new crop of outstanding athletes in EHT’s girls basketball program.
South Jersey Glory Days Staff Writer Dave O’Sullivan caught up with the pair after a game at Bishop Eustace on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a few questions.
Check out our 5 QUESTIONS with EHT’s Mariah Newman and Skyler Wood:
QUESTION: What has the journey been like for you guys from reserve players to now being impact players as seniors?
NEWMAN: It’s crazy to think about, because as a freshman I didn’t expect to ever become this kind of player. But I definitely worked for it, and finally being able to be in the spotlight is something I dreamed about as a little kid. Now, being an adult and helping out the team is something that I wished for, so I’m definitely working my hardest, doing what I do, shoot threes.
WOOD: Obviously, it’s been hard, but we call ourselves ‘The Duo.’ We work together so much outside of basketball just to prove to ourselves that we can do what’s expected of us. I feel like the journey has been long, but very worth it.
QUESTION: What, if anything, would you change about your high school career?
NEWMAN: Oh, gosh! Honestly, nothing. This career has been awesome. I couldn’t have asked for a better team, better coaches. I’ve had a great journey so far and I can’t wait to end it on a high note.
WOOD: I think we have the best team we’ve had in my four years here. The new coaching staff is amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s the best team I could be on as a senior. I wouldn’t change anything.
QUESTION: What has it been like to play for new coach Cameron Bell?
NEWMAN: Amazing! Just to sum it up in one word — amazing. He brings so much energy to the team, every day. There’s never a dull moment with him. He brings new ideas and new skills, and it’s awesome to see. Having a new coach and new staff brings a new light to the team.
WOOD: He’s so experienced in what he does. He coaches things other than basketball. His knowledge of sports is far beyond what we could have comprehended. I feel like he knows what to do in different situations — when to calm us down, when to bring us up. He’s the pillar we lean on in tough situations, and he’s helped us grow.
QUESTION: If you could live anywhere besides Egg Harbor Township, where would you live?
NEWMAN: I’m a big fan of New York, so definitely New York City.
WOOD: If we’re talking about out of state, I’d say South Carolina. It’s so pretty there and the colleges are nice, too.
QUESTION: What do you hope people at EHT will say about you after you graduate?
NEWMAN: I want to be remembered as someone who brought energy to the team. I try to be in a good mood every day no matter what is going on in my life. I want to be someone who is known for taking the underclassmen under my wing. I try to let the freshmen and sophomores know that I’m here for them if they need anything. I want to be remembered as that person who brought people in during times when they needed somebody.
WOOD: I really want to be remembered as a team player. No matter how low my lows are, I want to be cheering the team on. If other girls are having good games I want them to be in the spotlight — I don’t care if I’m having a bad game. It’s all about keeping the team together and keeping the team at its highest. That’s what I want to be remembered for.
WHAT’S NEXT: Egg Harbor Township travels to Absegami on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
