Henry return a success for Willingboro

Just like at Trenton Catholic, Nola Henry doesn't have to score.

She makes decisions. She creates opportunities. She leads her team.

Henry was the point guard for a Trenton Catholic team that won the girls' basketball Tournament of Champions last season. Among her teammates were the most highly recruited and talented players in the country - especially Briyona Canty, a freshman standout at Rutgers.

Now back at Willingboro, where she played her freshman year, Henry is again surrounded by scorers. And after her first game, the senior looks right at home.

"This is a young team with a lot of potential," said Henry, a senior who played Tuesday in a 64-52 win over Holy Cross after sitting out the mandatory 30 days because of the transfer rule.

"I have to lead them - that's most important. And it was kind of like that last year at Trenton Catholic."

Henry finished with eight points against Holy Cross but didn't score for the first three quarters. Rather than shoot, the senior set up her teammates, drove to the basket, dished it off when the defense collapsed on her, and focused on playing tough defense.

The results were predictable. Junior center Gabby Bennett scored 10 first-half points, including eight in the first quarter. And junior forward Micahya Owens, arguably the best all-around scorer in South Jersey, struck for 22 points after a scoreless first quarter.

"Nola controls the tempo of the game very well," Willingboro coach Marchelle Coleman said. "She sets people up; she puts players where they need to be. She creates a lot of good things."

Coleman praised Henry's poise in the fourth quarter, a period in which the Chimeras (8-2), ranked No. 3 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, outscored No. 4 Holy Cross (7-4) by 19-8, turning a close game into a comfortable win.

Henry was the catalyst of Willingboro's relentless fourth-quarter defense, in which it switched from a 1-2-2 to a 1-3-1 to a 2-1-2 man-press on almost every possession.

Offensively, Henry played with the calmness of a player who knows how to handle big situations.

She made sure her teammates didn't rush or make sloppy mistakes. And after orchestrating several long possessions, Henry drove to the basket, eventually hitting 6 of 8 free throws in the quarter.

"In the fourth quarter, I actually told my team that when we have the lead we have to maintain it," Henry said. "I told them, 'Don't ever settle and play sloppy just because we're up.' "

Henry, a Massachusetts recruit, points to her experience in last year's T of C as being one of her greatest assets this year.

Her coach agreed.

"I'm expecting her to be a leader, and that's what she is," Coleman said. "She's very much a vocal leader on this team. I'm expecting her to create plays, to be able to utilize the clock."

Added Henry: "I take a lot from my experience with Trenton Catholic because it was a great experience. I just try to teach them the team things like how to compete at all times, even if we're playing a lesser team. And they're pretty open to listening."

Holy Cross   9 20 15 8 – 52

Willingboro   10 19 16 19 – 64

HC: Alliya Butts 21, Aliyah Jeune 15, Ashli Jeune 8, Jaz Johnson 4, Amanda Offenback 4.

W: Micahya Owens 22, Gabby Bennett 16, Nola Henry 8, Kara Cezar 4, Aaliyah Saud-Lewis 8, Imani Stepni 6.