She’s having a ball
in the summer breeze

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Aileen Morrin loves life on the beach. She has spent much of her summer at her family’s condo in North Wildwood.
"I have so much fun down there. I go down every weekend," said Morrin, who lives in Mayfair during the week. "I love going to the beach and spending time with my family. And a lot of my friends live down there too, so it’s great."
Only one thing could tear the beach bum away from the sunshine and sand.
Her love for basketball.
"I’ve been playing basketball forever," said Morrin. "I love the sport. And I really like playing in a summer league because we play outside all of the time. I like the shore, but I love coming back up for basketball."
Morrin has played alongside her St. Hubert High School teammates in the Boyle summer basketball league, and the guard has had a very successful year on the courts.
"She’s a big-time competitor," said coach Brian Kuzmick. "She’s doing very well. She had a really great summer, and I think she’ll do great things this season with Hubert’s."
The Bambie squad’s summer league ended last week with a 34-23 loss to Archbishop Ryan in the first round of the playoffs on July 26. Morrin was the leading Bambies scorer with nine points.
"It was a good game," said Morrin. "We just fell a little short. It’s sad that it’s over, but we’re heading into the gym soon to start working out for the upcoming season, so we don’t really stop."
And while back-to-back seasons may seem like an overload of basketball to many, Morrin thrives on the opportunity to play year-round.
"I love the summer league," she said. "It’s nice going right from the season into summer ball and then back into the season. We get time off in between, but I like playing basketball, so it’s great that we play so often. Plus it keeps everyone in shape and helps us play better as a team."
Last year, St. Hubert had a tough season — finishing with a 5-7 record — and fell short of postseason play.
But this time around, the Bambies are already preparing to bolster the prospects for a more successful season.
"Obviously I want the team to improve and to build upon what we did last year," said Kuzmick. "We’re trying to turn some things around. We’re a young team, but we have talented players."
Morrin was one of the youngsters last season, but with six seniors lost to graduation and her new junior status, Morrin is ready to be one of the leaders on the squad.
"I’m excited to step up as one of the older girls on the team," said Morrin. "We’ve been playing together all summer, so I think we’ll have a good season. It’s great playing with my teammates over the summer.
"I’ve been playing basketball since I was four," she continued. "I love the competition aspect of it. I love the intensity on the court. And most of all, I love the friends I’ve made over the years." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com