Faith Bonett and Moorestown basketball roll over young Haddon Heights

The team's two leaders are named Faith and Grace.

It seemed more fitting as the game went on and the Moorestown girls' basketball team operated with a clinical, almost placid, confidence and precision.

The Quakers were the better team, that much was clear Saturday afternoon as Moorestown beat visiting Haddon Heights, 43-10.

But the lopsided score didn't define the game.

It was the chemistry, the crisp offensive sets and methodical defense and transition game.

It was the grace with which the Quakers executed and the faith that comes with opening day.

"The communication early was big. Everything was working, and it was a great win," said senior center Faith Bonett, a 6-foot New Hampshire recruit. "We practice hard, and we played today the way we've been practicing.

"It's opening day, so we were just extra excited and wanted this win."

Against a Garnets team replacing graduated all-South Jersey forward Ashley Reynolds, Bonett was unstoppable. She generated 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks despite sitting most of the second half with her team holding a substantial lead. She scored 10 points just in the first quarter as her size, quickness and pure skill simply overmatched Haddon Heights.

Her floor-mate, junior point guard Grace Hill, was just was crisp, recording six points, three assists and three steals while running the offense and setting a tempo that ran smooth the entire time she was on the court.

"What better thing to talk about during the holidays than Faith and Grace," Moorestown coach Chris Hill said with a smile. "They're our one-two punch this year. I think they have great chemistry on and off the floor. It's a nice thing to see. …

"They came into this year more polished than they were last year. And it's not that they're taking any team lightly, but they're playing more relaxed."

Though Haddon Heights (0-2) was clearly hustling throughout the game, the team — replacing five seniors in total — was held to just three points in the first half and went into the break down by 25.

"We're young," said Garnets coach Laura Kendra. "So games like this are to be expected. But we kept hustling. We kept fighting, and that's all you can ask."

Haddon Heights' lack of experience was in stark contrast to Moorestown's two veteran leaders.

Grace Hill and Bonett have been contributors since their freshman seasons, but this season, surrounded by mostly underclassmen without much experience, they're taking that role even further, particularly off the court.

On Thursday night, the team held a "psych party." It was one last chance to bond and build chemistry off the court before the start of the season.

The night was focused on the ways to honor Neil Rosa, Moorestown's long-time athletic director who died on Dec. 6 after a brief battle with leukemia.

Each player decorated, by hand, an orange T-shirt with the initials "NR" on the front. They wore them before and after the game and during a moment of silence that preceded the national anthem.

"He left such a big legacy behind here at Moorestown," Bonett. "We want to make sure that lasts and make sure people know how much of an impact he had on all of us."

Haddon Heights                3    0    5    2    —    10

Moorestown                     16  12   13   2   —   43

HH- Rachel Irish 1, Shapria Kelley 6, Gab Iacono 3.

M- Faith Bonett 14, Grace Hill 6, Kerri O'Sullivan 6, Jasmine Carter 11, Tina Takla 2, Ava Zohlman 2, Kallie Hiller 2.