Girls basketball: Jess Purdy happy to be back leading Neshaminy for senior year

Jess Purdy has a lot in common with her favorite basketball player, Joel Embiid.

Sure, the Neshaminy senior plays guard rather than center, and is roughly a foot and a half shorter than the 76ers’ star.

Last season Purdy broke her thumb in a Suburban One League Tournament game against Pennsbury in February. A couple months later, Embiid tore a thumb ligament in the playoffs.

Watching from the sidelines

Unfortunately for Purdy, her injury meant she had to watch her team’s entire playoff run, which culminated in a first-round PIAA state playoff game, from the sidelines. It was especially disappointing after Purdy had worked so hard to secure a key role in the lineup as a junior.

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That’s why her senior season, and especially the upcoming postseason, is so important to Purdy.

“I was a swing player as a freshman and on varsity as a sophomore, but I really didn’t see a lot of playing time,” said Purdy. “Last year, I wasn’t a regular starter, but I had a much bigger role as a shooter.”

Purdy good leader

This season, Purdy is not only the team’s starting shooting guard, but she’s also a team captain. Purdy takes her leadership duties very seriously, especially when it involves planning team pasta parties.

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“As a captain, I work to make sure that everyone on the team feels included,” said Purdy. “Whether it’s at practice or a team party, I think it’s important for everyone to know they have a role on the team.”

“(Jess being elected captain by her teammates) came as no surprise to me as Jess has a personality that ensures her teammates she is a welcoming person to confide in and seek encouragement,” said head coach John Gallagher.

On the court, Purdy has worked hard over the past couple seasons to harness her skills, and refine her shooting, but she also discovered that improving her mechanics wasn’t the most important thing.

“When our new coaching staff came in (after sophomore year) they really helped me work on my shooting but also my confidence, which is something I really needed to work on,” said Purdy. “Coach Gall has been especially helpful, he also encourages me to keep shooting.”

The work has paid off, as this season Purdy is second on the team in three-point shooting percentage, and has had the confidence to try — and make — several difference-making shots late in games.

“I kid Jess about her perpetual smile, but at the same time it assures me that she is enjoying the game and the company of her coaches and teammates,” said Gallagher. “She has dedicated the last four years to the basketball program and that investment is paying off this year.”

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With the regular season winding down, Purdy is excited about playing in the postseason for the first time. But first things first.

“I’d definitely like to win the SOL title, especially since it’s such a competitive division,” Purdy said of the SOL Patriot Division, which also includes three-time defending champion Pennsbury (16-4 overall) and Council Rock South (12-6). “Knowing we’re up against such good teams, winning the title would feel even more deserved.”

Neshaminy (14-5, 11-3 SOL) has two more division games against Council Rock North and Bensalem, and it looks like the race with Pennsbury, also 11-3 in the division, will come down to the wire.

“I think we have a really good chance of winning the division and going far in the playoffs,” said Purdy.

Purdy, who has been playing basketball since third grade, would love to keep her final season going as long as possible. Since she’s not decided to play college basketball, Purdy is savoring every second of her senior year.

A running Rebel

She plays for the Rebels Basketball Academy AAU team, and dedicates much of her free time to volunteering for the Neshaminy Basketball Academy and the Langhorne Athletic Association youth basketball programs. This year, her duties included running the scoreboard at LAA games.

Next year, Purdy plans to study nutrition at Penn State. But don’t expect her to be worrying about sticking to a healthy diet on Super Bowl Sunday.

Purdy, like Joel Embiid, is a big Eagles’ fan and attended the NFC Divisional Playoff win over the Giants.

“It’s been a great year for Philly sports teams with the Eagles and Phillies,” said Purdy. “And the Sixers could go far too.”

And, thanks in part to Purdy, so could Neshaminy.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks Neshaminy Girls Basketball Jess Purdy