Anytime a basketball team is undefeated, it's hard to pick out one person that is playing above and beyond the rest.

 

And for the Greencastle-Antrim girls basketball team, that couldn't hold more true.

 

Yes, Jenay Faulkner scored 42 points in two games over the weekend. Sure, Hannah Crist continues to menace opposing defenses with her ball handling and quickness, but you could argue the most important piece to the Blue Devils' puzzle is Senior forward Chloe Hoover.

 

She doesn't always put up the gaudy numbers, but her intangibles and leadership can't be measured on a stat sheet.

 

"Chloe does whatever we ask her to, and we ask a lot from her," G-A coach Mike Rhine said. "We call her the glue to the team. She is the best captain you could ask for."

 

Hoover recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds in a closer-than-expected win over James Buchanan on Friday night. Then, on Saturday night, she followed that performance up with another double-double against East Pennsboro, scoring 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds.

 

She is this week's Public Opinion Female Athlete of the Week.

 

"We knew JB would come and play us a lot harder this time around," Hoover said, "and they definitely did. We didn't play the best game, but we got the job done. Then, we came back strong and got a big win (on Saturday). It's exciting to still be undefeated."

 

Hoover contributes most of her success to her teammates' ability to find her in open space, but Rhine thinks that she has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

"Ever since she came up as a freshman, she has shown the ability to hit key shots for us. If we're struggling to score or trying to close out a game on the foul line, Chloe is the one we want to get the ball to."

 

Even when the lights are off and the game is over, Hoover is still there to lead her teammates in the locker room.

 

"She has been the leader for a couple years now," Rhine said. "Last year, we had no seniors, so she stepped into that role as our oldest player. She's not afraid to talk to me, and she communicates with the whole team to keep us on the same page."

 

"I just try to always be positive for my teammates. There aren't many upperclassmen on this team, so Katie (Gelsinger) and I try to be there for our teammates whenever possible."

 

Hoover plans to go to college, and she has looked at Robert Morris and Millersville as possible choices. She doesn't plan on playing basketball at the college level, but hasn't ruled out the idea of it yet either.

 

One thing is for sure; The Blue Devils will have a different feel to them next year, even though Hoover will be the only player not returning.

 

"She's the only senior we're losing," Rhine said, "but that will still be huge shoes to fill. She's a great player, student and person. I don't know what were going to do without her."