David Brown, Lion’s Eye Editor, dvb5451@psu.edu
As the Brandywine Lady Lions continue their successful season with a record of 10‐6, Cashae Hinton has made history with her 1000‐point season and has no desire to slow down.
Hinton, a Norristown native, leads the league in assists and ranks sixth nationally, averaging 4.5 assists per game. She ranks ninth nationally and second in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) in steals per game with 3.5. Hinton is coming off an All‐American season while leading the team with 25 minutes per game. As far as credit for Hinton’s success, the senior point guard gives it all away.
“All the credit goes to the coaches and team I play for,” Hinton said. “I can’t tell you the amount of times they took me out of a game when I was frustrated, calmed me down and still believed in me.”
When asked on how she felt about being the eighth player to reach 1000 points she said, “It’s pretty amazing. A big burden and a lot of pressure come with it, but I couldn’t have done it without the outstanding players I have played with.”
Lady Lions Head Coach Larry Johnson couldn’t say enough about Hinton’s character and effect on the team.
“She (Hinton) is a leader, our captain, and I would say the best point guard in our league,” Johnson said. “Cashae knows how to get her teammates involved. Whenever we need a big steal, she comes up it. She is definitely our best defensive player.”
Johnson also mentioned Hinton and Olivia Encarnacion as the squad’s quality shooters. The two have become key players on offense with a combined average 23 points per game, while the entire offense averages 73 points per game. Defensively, the pair averages 8.2 rebounds and five blocks per game.
Johnson talked about the team’s defense, touching on improvements the team could make.
“We have to get better defensively 100%,” Johnson said. “We give up too many points to other teams that shouldn’t score that many points.”
“We need to be helping on D (defense), helping each other, and having consistent ball movement,” Hinton said.
The Lions’ defense has been an issue for the team this year as they have been averaging 20 turnovers per game, 66 points against overall and 75 points against in conference games. Hinton didn’t sell her team short when it came to expectations for this season.
“We can get to Nationals,” Hinton said. “This is a very talented group of girls, and besides losing two key players from last year, we have the same squad and can be very successful.”
The coach concurred with Hinton’s expectations.
“Our expectations are to always make it to the PSUAC playoffs,” Johnson said. “If we come together I think we could win the championship and make it to the national tournament.”
This Brandywine squad has been successful since Hinton’s freshman year, and even more so under Coach Johnson and his staff. In his nine‐year tenure, the team has a winning percentage of .660 accumulated with a 163‐84 record.
Johnson has brought Brandywine nine PSUAC South Division championships in a row, two regular season championships, two PSUAC tournament championships, three USCA tournament bids and PSUAC coach of the year award during the 2013‐2014 season.
With all that said, this Brandywine squad looks to add to Coach Johnson’s resume.
Hinton reminisced on her favorite moment of her basketball career at Brandywine.
“My favorite moment was as a freshman to help the upperclassman overcome a 20‐point‐deficit to win the championship,” Hinton said. “It was surreal.”
Similar to that squad in 2010 Hinton referred to, the Lady Lions has challenges to overcome, but does have the talent that could drive them into the postseason. Defensively, improvements do need to be made, but this team has done more with less before.
Only time will tell if Hinton’s favorite memory of bringing home another championship to Brandywine will be repeated this season.
The Lady Lions finished the season with a record of 18‐9, losing in the Final Four to rival Penn State Beaver. Hinton finished the season with 1,176 points.
Story updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff