The 2003 Girls’ Basketball Team
One of the most accomplished and talented Peddie girls’ basketball teams in the program’s history, the 2002-03 squad under Hall of Fame coach Sean Casey reaped numerous accolades including a top 10 national ranking from Street and Smith magazine.
 
Starting out 2-2 with tough losses to Archbishop John Carroll of Philadelphia and Piedmont High School in the Nike Tournament of Champions (Phoenix), the Falcons reeled off 20 wins in a row against an elite schedule. They also rolled to their seventh consecutive Prep A crown and fifth Mid-Atlantic Prep League title.
 
2003 girls basketball team

(In alphabetical order): Christina Campion(c.), Danielle Collins, Kindyll Dorsey, Whitney Douthett(c.), Laura Giusto, Crystal Goring, Bridgette Mitchell, Erin Mullen, Caitlin Pall, Allison Salstein, Jennifer Stever, Randolph Vesprey(mgr.). Coach Casey, Coach Gustavson

Peddie had its own “Fab Five” in Christina Campion ’03, Whitney Douthett ’03 (2013 inductee for soccer, basketball and lacrosse), Kindyll Dorsey ’03, Crystal Goring ’05 and Bridgette Mitchell ’06. Fierce under the net and a marksman from three-point land, Campion broke the school’s all-time career scoring mark with 1,618 points and took her abilities to Richmond, where she joined the 1,000 Point Club. Douthett marshaled the offense at point guard, but is remembered for her tenacious defense, often earning the assignment of marking the opposition's top offensive threat. While at Dartmouth, Douthett showcased her athletic prowess as an All-Ivy soccer defender and All-American lacrosse player for the Big Green. Dorsey was silk, dishing out nearly eight assists per game and at Boston College scored a school NCAA tournament record six 3-pointers and 24 points overall against Ohio State to reach the Sweet 16. Selected a McDonald’s All-American in 2005, Goring (Richmond) capped her Peddie career with 1,201 points, 356 blocks and 936 rebounds. A dynamic wing player, Mitchell (Duke) finished her four-year Peddie stint with 1,479 points and earned New Jersey’s Gatorade Player of the Year honor and a trip to the McDonald’s All-American Game.

2003 girls basketball team celebrates their victory

The 2003 Girls’ Basketball team win the Prep A Crown.

“My greatest challenge with this group was they practiced so hard I had to cut practices short because they were such great competitors I didn't want them to get hurt when we got into January and February,” Casey said. “They were a remarkable team.”

The Falcons dismantled Pennsylvania powers Cardinal O’Hara and Germantown Academy and savored historic victories over Marlboro and Malcom X Shabazz. Playing in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball contest in the Erik B. Hanson Field House, Dorsey’s clutch jump shots and the Falcons’ suffocating defense handled a Marlboro team, 51-37, a team loaded with four Division I players. In addition, the Falcons stunned the eventual New Jersey Tournament of Champions winner Shabazz at home, 68-60. Mitchell, in an iconic moment, knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key to hold off a late charge from Shabazz.

This team had it all with great talents and skilled role players. Casey’s players blended together on both sides of the ball. Hardworking and relentless, the girls epitomized what it means to be a Hall of Fame team.

Members of the 2003 Girls Basketball team at the 2018 Sports Hall of Fame induction