Team Defense, Hithe Key Summer Derby Bound SC 76ers



When the SC 76ers have the basketball, the focus is on Christian Hithe. When the 76ers head to the defensive end of the court, it becomes a total team effort.

“The one thing we know is that we are always going to play good defense,” said Coach Roger Wiley. “We play very good team defense. We have a lot of long, athletic players. We can pressure the ball on the perimeter, and we have a lot of shot blockers inside.

“We play very hard on defense, and we play as a team. We can keep the best teams to about 60 points, and a lot of teams have a hard time getting to 40 points against us.”

That defense will face a tough challenge next month when the 76ers travel to the Summer Derby Classic, which will be played in Louisville, KY on July 23-24. The tournament, which will include many of the top travel programs in the country, will be played at the Mid America Sports Center.

The 76ers’ defensive strength will be complemented by Hithe offensive talent. The 5-9 guard, who possesses an impressive array of offensive moves, has verbally committed to Central Florida. She is currently listed as the No. 167 recruit in the Class of 2016 by the All Star Girls Report.

“Christian is a player who gives you great defense, she hustles all the time, and she can score for you,” Wiley said. “On defense, she always covers the other teams top threat, one through three. Offensively, I really believe she is one of the Top 10 players in the country. Plus, she is a great kid.

“On the offensive end, Christian can take anyone to the hole. She is great off the dribble, and she can create her own shot. She also has a great vertical leap, so when the ball is in the air she can rebound with the best of them. She is an excellent shooter, whether it is a set shot or coming off a screen, and she range extends beyond the arc. She can also finish with either hand, and she is just a blur in transition.

“Christian is the kind of player where, every once in a while, you think, ‘What would it be like to have a whole team like that?'”