Girls hoops notebook: Vineland's Moss continues to grow
Chakyra Moss is something of a rarity on the Vineland High School girls’ basketball team.
The freshman forward has brought some much needed size to a team littered with small pesky guards like senior Destiny Esquilin and junior Nosaja Echevarria. It’s Moss’ job to battle on the boards and play tough defense inside.
That’s a lot to ask of a freshman, but she hasn’t shied away from the role.
“I feel pressure when we’re running (the floor) and when my team is working together, it’s a lot of pressure,” Moss said. “Especially when teams are playing us man (defense) and you have to help each other out. It’s a lot of pressure, but I like that because it makes me stronger. It makes me work harder.”
Moss leads the Fighting Clan with six rebounds per game and has eclipsed the 100-rebound mark for the season. There’s potential for those numbers to skyrocket over her time at Vineland and coach Will Breese is working to help Moss cultivate her talent.
“From the first time she got on the floor to now, she’s definitely improved as far as knowing where she needs to be,” Breese said. “Knowing where to be and knowing when to go after the ball. ... We want her to be more aggressive, get off the ground and go get the ball. Find where it’s going to be when it comes off the rim.”
While her instincts and skills continue to mature, Moss tries her hardest to be an asset to the team in any way possible, but just having her out on the court can sometimes be a boon to the Fighting Clan.
“When I get that rebound, I can help my team get back on track,” Moss said. “We can just set back up again."
The last time Vineland had a girl of Moss’ size and potential was Shavonne Davis. Davis helped the Fighting Clan win the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament in 2011, her senior year.
No one is demanding that Moss hold up a championship immediately. It’s a step-by-step process to give the freshman added responsibilities on the court.
“I know I’m a little soft right now, but I have to work on being strong. I have to work out and get bigger,” Moss said. “(My teammates) see me as getting better and helping them out more.”
Right now, it’s a focus on rebounding at higher rates and getting to the basket more consistently. However, there is certainly much more to accomplish down the road.
“For Chakyra, what I’d really like to do is see her get to certain goals,” Breese said. “We’ve put this in front of her and that’s to get to that 500-rebound goal and hopefully more than that. We also want her to be able to score a little more.
“If she can put those two things together and become that player that I really think she can be, she could be one of the big girls that comes out of here and plays at one of the bigger schools. I know she wants to play in college and I hope we can accomplish that together.”
Millville can finish strong
The Thunderbolts have come out on top in three of their last four contests, including a 65-32 victory over Vineland on Monday. Sitting at 6-10, Millville has a chance to make something of its up-and-down season.
The first two of the Thunderbolts’ last four games will be the toughest. Millville will host Wildwood before heading to Mainland to face a Mustangs squad that came out on top 39-23 in their first meeting on Jan. 15.
However, the Thunderbolts have come together of late and the improved play could keep them in those games. Powered by sophomore forward Alexis Harrison and senior Kaila Smith down low, Millville has enough length to present problems for any team it faces.
That was evident in a 31-30 defeat to Absegami on Jan. 21. The Bolts held the Braves scoreless in the first quarter of the contest, but they got into foul trouble late, dooming any hopes of a victory. If Millville can keep its cool in the second contest on Feb. 16, it’s anyone’s game.
Egg Harbor Township fell to Millville 31-27 on Feb. 1 and the two will meet again in the regular-season finale on Feb. 18.
Delsea faces a tough schedule
The Crusaders were able to hold off Gloucester 31-22 on Tuesday and they should expect a few more tough battles on the way.
Delsea will face Lenape (16-2), Cumberland and Haddonfield (16-3) in the next 10 days. The Cumberland contest will be the lone home game and the Tri-County Conference Diamond division will be on the line.
Though Wykira Johnson-Kelly was the only player in double digits against Gloucester with 11 points, seven different players scored for the Crusaders. That kind of depth will be crucial to getting through these matchups.
The Daily Journal’s Top Five
(Through Wednesday's results)
1. Delsea (14-4) – There will be a lot on the Crusaders' plate in the coming days, but don’t count them out just yet.
2. Cumberland (17-2) – The Colts must be ready for their rematch against Delsea. The team's championship hopes are at stake.
3. Millville (6-10) – Millville needs to make a strong run at the end of the season in the hopes of peaking around playoff time.
4. Vineland (7-11) – Vineland will try to pull of victories against the likes of Holy Spirit, Absegami and Mainland in the coming days.
5. Buena (4-12) – The Chiefs picked up two wins against Pennsauken Tech and Pleasantville.
Matt Silva; (856) 563-5322; msilva@gannettnj.com
Top local scorers (points per game)
1. Avery Chance, Fairton Christian… 22.4
2. Destiny Esquilin, Vineland… 13.8
3. Wykira Johnson-Kelly, Delsea… 12.8
4. Vashti Hannah, Cumberland… 12.3
5. Nosaja Ecchevarria, Vineland… 11.3
6. Katie Kavanagh, OLMA… 11
7. SyDonnie Dawkins, Cumberland… 10.9
8. Alexis Harrison, Millville… 10.5
9. Glory Morton, Delsea… 10.1
10. Grace Brown, Schalick… 9.0