Sisters pair up in varsity basketball
This year’s varsity basketball team had two pairs of sisters filling its ranks. Freshman point guard Delaney Schutz (left) and senior point guard Madison Schutz (middle right) make up one pair, and freshman small forward Nikki Hunter (middle left) and senior center Ashley Hunter (right) compose the other.
The Patriot gives a snapshot of varsity basketball sisters Madison and Delaney Schutz and Ashley and Nikki Hunter, discovering their relationship on and off the court.
5 facts about Schutzes
1. Senior varsity point guard Madison Schutz and freshman varsity point guard Delaney Schutz played together on Mountain Christian’s basketball team.
2. When driving to a game together, the girls have “Sister Sing Song Time,” where they turn up the music and sing along to get pumped up.
Varsity point guards senior Madison Schutz and freshman Delaney Schutz have played basketball together since middle school at Mountain Christian. Both girls began playing basketball when they were five.
3. “Madison’s always able to get in and fight, so when she leaves I don’t think we’ll have a big, tough person to get in there,” Delaney said.
4. The girls’ father, Jeff Schutz, is an assistant coach and has coached the girls since they were five.
5. “[Delaney] underestimates herself a lot. I hope that she realizes how good she can be,” Madison said.
5 facts about Hunters
1. Senior varsity center Ashley Hunter started playing at age 8, and freshman varsity small forward Nikki Hunter began playing at age 6, but this is the first time they’ve been on the same team.
Until this year, varsity center senior Ashley Hunter and varsity small forward freshman Nikki Hunter had never played basketball for the same team. According to them, being on the same team has brought them closer together.
2. Ashley and Nikki both tore their ACLs. Ashley tore her ACL last season, and Nikki tore hers this season, limiting her playtime. “I never realized I wanted to play with her until she tore her ACL and I couldn’t,” Ashley said.
3. Ashley has committed to play for the Naval Academy next year.
4. “Ashley brings an energy to the room when she plays. When things are really intense, she knows how to handle it,” Nikki said.
5. “I admire how much my sister [Nikki] loves basketball. I get tired of it sometimes, but she never does,” Ashley said.
Kathy Deaver is the Online Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.
Hanna LeBuhn is the Print Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.