DEDHAM, Mass. — Hoosac girls basketball coach Julie McBride exited the court following the NEPSAC Class AAA championship game, triumphantly yelling, "From the bottom!" to players, assistants and anyone within earshot.
Second-seeded Hoosac had just prevailed in a low-scoring war against New Hampton, 39-37, at Nobles. The victory affirmed there's a new superpower in New England prep school — and it comes from New York.
"Everybody knows that Hoosac has been at the bottom," McBride said. "When I took over the program (in 2022), we were bad — really bad. But just the support of Hoosac and our headmaster and everybody that is involved in our program — that's allowing me to be myself as a coach and go after kids that are my type of kids — the support has been able to get us to where we are today."
MORE GIRLS CHAMPIONS: Class AA — Darrow beats Worcester Academy | Class A — Sacred Heart beats Loomis Chaffee | Class B Large — Berkshire beats Lawrence Academy | Class B Small — Hamden Hall beats Kimball Union
Those "types of kids" are epitomized by size, toughness and an ability to show up in key moments. Star guard Anna Moser won AAA tournament MVP and scored nine points, but in a physical, defensive game, Hoosac's success often came down to effort plays.
"Defense was definitely really important for us," Moser said. "I think a lot of my teammates really stepped up. I was struggling a little, but I feel like we just stayed together the whole time."
That included a tough and-1 bucket from Rhya Wilson to take a 19-16 lead into halftime. It meant A'briyah Cunningham smothering and contesting a strong spin move from New Hampton's Chloe Dix later in the game. It meant quiet, 6-foot-2 Russian wing Uliana Doronina leading the team with 14 points, showing a confidence making scoring moves that didn't exist when she came to the United States last season.
Another less-heralded impact contributor: Tanavia Turpin, who transferred in as a postgrad this season. Turpin (nine points) and Doronina shared responsibility defending New Hampton star guard Elyse Ngenda. In the fourth quarter, after Hoosac used the entire shot clock and missed a late 3, Turpin swiped down a rebound and put it back to push the lead to 34-28.
"She doesn't quit. She never points a finger. She never makes an excuse," McBride said. "She does the job, she does it without talking, and she's just an amazing kid that we want to help."
Turpin is a recent Division 1 commit to New Haven who's still under the radar in New England circles. Moser aside, many of Hoosac's leading names aren't known by the larger NEPSAC community. McBride doesn't mind flying under the radar.
"I want kids that nobody wants," she said. "I want kids that are gonna lay it on the line for me. I'm gonna yell at them, I'm gonna challenge them, I'm gonna hold them accountable, and they know it's because I love them. That 'come from the bottom,' that's — everyone thinks that we're the poor little school. And guess what: We can be. That's no problem. But we're gonna work our a - - off, and that's totally fine, too."
