The dinner table conversations in the McQuillen home usually start with talk about the day’s events.
“But,” said Erin McQuillen, “it pretty much turns into a discussion of how our practice was and what the game plan is for the next day.”
The Cresskill guard had plenty to talk about last week.
The Record Female Athlete of the Week had 24 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Lakeland on Dec. 27 in the Passaic Valley Holiday Hoopfest. The next day, she had 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists in a victory over Wayne Valley.
Basketball bonds the McQuillens. Her mom, Christine, played at King’s College in Pennsylvania and coached Erin’s youth rec team. Her dad, Cory, coached Erin’s CYO team. And when Erin finds some free time, she likes to engage her 14-year-old twin siblings, Brian and Colleen, in a game of 21.
“We’re always pushing each other and we don’t call fouls, so it gets pretty physical,” Erin said.
She’s going to miss those blacktop battles next year. McQuillen is heading to Susquehanna University in central Pennsylvania to play for the River Hawks.
“I really like the coach [Jim Reed] and how the team plays, and the campus is really nice,” she said.
Before she leaves Cresskill, however, she has some unfinished business. Reaching the 1,500-point mark is a possibility, but McQuillen is more focused on winning games and honing her skills.
“My freshman year, I was pretty much known as a shooter, but in the off-season I would work on my ballhandling and making moves to the basket,” she said. “I became a threat as a driver and not just as a shooter.”
Also nominated: Julia Healy of Northern Highlands for track and Samantha McClutchy of Westwood and Brianna Wong of Pascack Valley for basketball.
