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| Three-sport stars Kassidy Cross, Natalie LaPlaca lead Northern | Three-sport stars Kassidy Cross, Natalie LaPlaca lead Northern |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Northern needed new rules, so girls’ basketball Coach Brad Kingsbury looked to the champions in the backcourt. | Northern needed new rules, so girls’ basketball Coach Brad Kingsbury looked to the champions in the backcourt. |
| As the only two freshmen members of the Patriots’ undefeated softball team three years ago, guards Natalie LaPlaca and Kassidy Cross had won three straight Maryland 3A championships with bats and gloves. As members of Northern’s volleyball team, the two girls had kicked off their senior year with a 21-0 run to the state volleyball title in the fall. | As the only two freshmen members of the Patriots’ undefeated softball team three years ago, guards Natalie LaPlaca and Kassidy Cross had won three straight Maryland 3A championships with bats and gloves. As members of Northern’s volleyball team, the two girls had kicked off their senior year with a 21-0 run to the state volleyball title in the fall. |
| As senior captains on the basketball team, LaPlaca and Cross were just two members of the flat team that showed up at North Point on Dec. 16. After the Patriots fell in a 65-53 loss on the road, Kingsbury had questions. | As senior captains on the basketball team, LaPlaca and Cross were just two members of the flat team that showed up at North Point on Dec. 16. After the Patriots fell in a 65-53 loss on the road, Kingsbury had questions. |
| The answers have propelled Northern (11-1) on a seven-game winning streak. | The answers have propelled Northern (11-1) on a seven-game winning streak. |
| “Coach Brad gathered all of the captains and was like, ‘What was that all about?’ ” LaPlaca said. “We decided from there that we were going to start running things in basketball like we did in softball and volleyball.” | “Coach Brad gathered all of the captains and was like, ‘What was that all about?’ ” LaPlaca said. “We decided from there that we were going to start running things in basketball like we did in softball and volleyball.” |
| LaPlaca and Cross called a team meeting. From then on, things were going to be different. | LaPlaca and Cross called a team meeting. From then on, things were going to be different. |
| The Patriots started with punctuality. Anyone who arrived to practice less than 15 minutes early was considered late. Anyone who was late was responsible for team sprints. The Northern girls would be held accountable for their uniforms. To promote unity and accountability, everyone was asked to dress the same for practices and games. | The Patriots started with punctuality. Anyone who arrived to practice less than 15 minutes early was considered late. Anyone who was late was responsible for team sprints. The Northern girls would be held accountable for their uniforms. To promote unity and accountability, everyone was asked to dress the same for practices and games. |
| Basketball is not the primary focus for either of the Patriots’ top two scorers. | Basketball is not the primary focus for either of the Patriots’ top two scorers. |
| Cross, who leads the team with 14.7 points per game, is committed to play softball at Maryland. In the state final last year in College Park, she went 4 for 4 with a clutch double to lead the Patriots to their eight straight championship. LaPlaca made a full-extension diving stop from third base to record the last out. | Cross, who leads the team with 14.7 points per game, is committed to play softball at Maryland. In the state final last year in College Park, she went 4 for 4 with a clutch double to lead the Patriots to their eight straight championship. LaPlaca made a full-extension diving stop from third base to record the last out. |
| As a libero aiming to walk on the volleyball team at the Naval Academy, LaPlaca said basketball is her third favorite sport. At third base, she plays next to Cross at shortstop. In basketball, she’s averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 assists. | As a libero aiming to walk on the volleyball team at the Naval Academy, LaPlaca said basketball is her third favorite sport. At third base, she plays next to Cross at shortstop. In basketball, she’s averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 assists. |
| On a deep team that returned seven seniors and five of its top six players, the Patriots are also receiving 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game from another softball standout, senior forward Gina Seifert. Senior forward Mykaela Bailey and junior guard Ananda Claggett are both averaging more than nine points. | On a deep team that returned seven seniors and five of its top six players, the Patriots are also receiving 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game from another softball standout, senior forward Gina Seifert. Senior forward Mykaela Bailey and junior guard Ananda Claggett are both averaging more than nine points. |
| “We don’t have to spend as much time teaching fundamentals and things. These girls have played together for four years,” Kingsbury said. “We have certain things to kind of fine tune our game.” | “We don’t have to spend as much time teaching fundamentals and things. These girls have played together for four years,” Kingsbury said. “We have certain things to kind of fine tune our game.” |
| LaPlaca said she loves competing in three sports. The lack of specialization has improved her athleticism and conditioned her for high-pressure situations. | LaPlaca said she loves competing in three sports. The lack of specialization has improved her athleticism and conditioned her for high-pressure situations. |
| But sometimes it can be a little confusing. | But sometimes it can be a little confusing. |
| During a game earlier in the season, LaPlaca sprinted down the court on a fast break and saw a lob pass descending high over her head. Instead of attemping a catch, dribble and pass, LaPlaca channeled her inner libero, tapping the basketball ahead for Cross to finish in the paint. | During a game earlier in the season, LaPlaca sprinted down the court on a fast break and saw a lob pass descending high over her head. Instead of attemping a catch, dribble and pass, LaPlaca channeled her inner libero, tapping the basketball ahead for Cross to finish in the paint. |
| “The coaches are like, ‘What the heck?’ ” LaPlaca said. “I was like, ‘Aren’t you glad I play volleyball too?’ ” | “The coaches are like, ‘What the heck?’ ” LaPlaca said. “I was like, ‘Aren’t you glad I play volleyball too?’ ” |
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