Girls Basketball Insider: Is Holy Trinity for real?

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  Holy Trinity (11-4) defeated St. John the Baptist, 37-32, on Jan. 4 and is in first place in the CHSAA at 8-0.
  
  "It's very important to get back to that level," said Finlay, referring to the early part of the decade. "All the talk is about St. John the Baptist. We're 8-0 and people still don't think we're that good. A lot of people didn't expect us to beat St. John the Baptist. People ask us how we beat them."
  
  Holy Trinity won the Class B Federation championship in 2004 and the Class A Federation title in 2005 when Finlay was a freshman. The Titans were young and inexperienced the past two seasons.
  
  "We had a lot of talent, but we didn't know how to work together," Finlay said. "We went through everything the last two years. We've been intact and know what works and what doesn't."
  
  One of the reasons for the Titans' success is the makeup of the team. "The chemistry is great," junior Terry Green said. "No one cares who gets the points. It's more about winning."
  
  Holy Trinity has thrived by playing smothering defense. Most of the drills in practice are related to defense.
  
  On offense, Green, who averages 13 points and 11 rebounds, has improved her perimeter game to complement her strong play inside. Finlay, who will play at UNC-Wilmington, is an outstanding defender and leader on the court. Kate Costello, a junior guard, is averaging eight points and 10 rebounds. She's 5-11 and often plays point guard.
  
  "We didn't have the team to win the past few years," Green said. "We've bonded more and have a positive outlook."
  
  Coach Theresa Huebner hasn't experienced this type of team in her 18 seasons. Huebner, who is 316-132, said the Titans are very pleasant to coach. She has had no problems at all and tutors several of the players.
  
  "They're easy to coach," she said. "They're more mature. They're really nice kids. It's fun to coach this team."
  
  Huebner still thinks the team needs a confidence boost. Holy Trinity trailed North Babylon, one of the top teams in Suffolk, 32-17 at the half on Dec. 16. The Titans rallied to tie the score before losing in overtime, 63-61.
  
  "They had no idea they could play that good," she said. "I wish they had some more confidence. They don't realize how good they can be. They defend and work hard. Once they realize how good they can be, we can get to the next plateau."
  
  While the win over St. John the Baptist may have surprised some, Holy Trinity didn't dwell on it much.
  
  "We're the underdogs," Finlay said. "People think St. John the Baptist is the top dog even after we beat them. It was a big win because they have been the top team. It's still early. We didn't celebrate. We have a long way to go."