End of an era for Hampton’s Ali Collins, Laryn Edwards

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 12, 2018 | 12:21 AM

After the sting of its most recent playoff loss subsides, the Hampton girls basketball seniors likely will look back with reverence.

The season ended with a 48-41 loss to cross-section rival Mars after a 59-52 setback to the Planets in the last section game of the season cost the Talbots an outright section championship.

But the seniors closed a three-year stretch that won't be forgotten, compiling an overall record of 62-16, a 33-3 section record, three section titles, two WPIAL semifinal appearances and two state playoff berths.

“If we played better and to our potential, I think we could have won,” senior Ali Collins said. “I got fouls early and couldn't play as aggressively.”

It also marks the end for Collins and teammate Laryn Edwards. The two were practically inseparable the past eight years and shared success wherever they went. Edwards is headed to Loyola (Md.), and Collins is Seton Hill-bound.

“It's a realization that this is it,” Edwards said. “This is the last time I get to play with my best friend after eight years. It was just disappointing and sad.”

Edwards said there was a bond with all the seniors. Brooke Fuller, Alisha Januck, Natalie Rydzak and Julia Powers were unselfish and less heralded, as Edwards and Collins provided more than half of the scoring. Fuller was playing some of her best basketball late in the season, contributing a double-double in the loss to Mars.

“She's very unselfish,” Hampton coach Tony Howard said. “In section games, she averaged well over double digits in rebounds. She helped control the inside and always played hard defense. Her playoff games were the best games of the year.”

Howard will miss Edwards and Collins, who made his transition to head coach three years ago much easier.

“They make me look smarter than I am,” said Howard, who knew the two as middle school players during his previous tenure at Mars but did not know the extent of their cohesion.

“I knew they were skilled individually, but I didn't know they were that good together. … My last year at Mars we had two 1,000-point scorers. But those girls didn't know each other's games like Lauren and Ali, just the way they feed off each other.”

“We always talk about how we'll Facetime each other every day,” said Edwards. “It's going to be a different feel on the court, having to get used to different players. It's a new start, and it's exciting, but it's hard knowing I'll be on the court missing my best friend.”

Hampton returns one senior next year in Maddie Stevens. But young talent abounds with freshmen such as Kate Schmitt and Olivia Bianco, who were good enough to see playing time this year.

“We're looking forward to the challenge,” said Howard, who expects to use up to 11 players and employ more of a press-style game. “We have some girls with ability here. Obviously some experience and being in the situation is something we're going to get comfortable with.”

Devon Moore is a freelance writer.