Olympic Conference 2021 Season Recap Pt. 1

South Jersey’s strongest conference shined bright in this shortened 2021 season, producing some of the best teams and players in the state. Preseason favorite Cherokee was dethroned this season as Paul VI solidified itself as the best in the region in 2021, defeating the Chiefs in their two meetings during the season. The Eagles finished the season 13-2, those two losses coming to the two best programs in the state: St. John Vianney and Trenton Catholic. Prep Girls Hoops will be recapping this season in full detail, starting out by talking about this season’s conference standouts. <em><strong>Avery Kessler - SG, Shawnee</strong></em> Kessler had a breakout season for the Renegades in 2021, becoming the driving force on a 9-4 Shawnee team that surprised in the Olympic Conference. The sophomore led the team in scoring and three-point shooting, averaging 13.0 PPG and two made threes a game. She excelled beyond the arc, getting open much more, especially off-ball. Her freshman to sophomore year transition helped as she looked significantly looser and more comfortable on the court in 2021. On defense, Kessler averaged nearly three steals a game, creating turnovers left and right, causing havoc for defenses. Her and fellow sophomore Nia Scott will be a fearsome tandem for years to come. <em><strong>Mia Robbins - C/F, Eastern</strong></em> Eastern got off to a rough start to the season, starting 2-3, but despite the slow start, Robbins was red hot from the jump, turning into one of the best forwards in the region and the conference. She paced the team in scoring, averaging 13.3 PPG, and the junior was as dominant on the defensive end in 2021. Robbins was a defensive stalwart, swatting away shots and averaging over a steal a game for the Vikings. Eastern’s seven-game winning streak in the middle of the season was due in big part to her as the Vikings held opponents to 31.9 PPG during that stretch. Expect much more from Robbins as a senior this fall. <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134612" first="Alexa" last="Therien"] - C/F, Cherokee</strong></em> The Boston University commit was as advertised during the shortened 2021 season, leading a dominant Cherokee squad that was one of the best in South Jersey. She was neutralized when playing Paul VI as their halfcourt press defense swarmed the entire conference. However, as a senior, Therien averaged just under 15.0 PPG, dominating the glass and the paint for the Chiefs. She was the go-to option in the middle and a team leader from start-to-finish. Above anything, her maturity showed this season and leadership took over as despite a few hiccups along the road, she steered Cherokee to a 12-2 record this season. <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134645" first="Hannah" last="Hidalgo"] - PG, Paul VI</strong></em> Hidalgo was the most dominant player on the most dominant team in South Jersey this season, an incredible scorer and just all-around force on the court. The sophomore guard led Paul VI in scoring this season, averaging 20.2 PPG, and was one of the top scorers in the region. Also, her 3.9 SPG were among the best marks among all players in the state. She shined when the competition was at its best, putting up 20+ point performances against Stuart Day and Cherokee, and scored a season-high 29 points against Washington Township on February 25. She showed immense development as a guard and carried Paul VI to new heights as the new best program in South Jersey. <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155448" first="Kassidy" last="Thompson"], G, Camden Catholic</strong></em> Thompson’s and Camden Catholic’s season was cut short due to Covid-19, having only played nine of a possible 15 games, but the sophomore was as good as it gets in the Olympic Conference. The Clearview transfer shined with the Irish, averaging 18.5 PPG and 6.4 RPG, recording two double-doubles in the process. Camden Catholic was a program that went through its struggles last season, but Thompson and fellow Clearview transfer [player_tooltip player_id="134752" first="Aaryn" last="Battle"] helped right the ship in a big way for the Irish as the program finished 7-2 on the season and were among the best programs in the National Division. Prep Girls Hoops will be continuing to recap the 2021 high school girls basketball season in New Jersey, so stay tuned for more in the coming days and weeks.