Eastern Hancock girls basketball team has four sets of sisters. They are, from the left — with younger sister on older sister’s back — Lexi Knight and Cami Knight, Caroline Stapleton and Grace Stapleton, Anna White and Ruby White and Emma Bolding and Sammie Bolding. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Mann Photography)
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Often in sports your team becomes your family.
With four sets of siblings making up a large part of the 17-member Eastern Hancock High School girls basketball program, the Royals have that special family quality that other teams do not have.
Coach Shari Doud’s girls’ basketball team has two members each of the Stapleton, Bolding, White and Knight families.
“What’s really interesting about it, when we get on the court, as a team, you don’t even really look at them as sisters. You look at them as basketball players,” Doud said. “From that standpoint, it’s really no different coaching a team with no siblings.
“I think the support cast for each other is deeper because of the family bloodlines. Blood is thicker than water. As far as supporting each other, it’s a little more passionate than past teams.”
Senior Caroline Stapleton and junior Grace Stapleton have been a part of the varsity team for three years. Both are starters. Junior Emma Bolding and sophomore Sammie Bolding have also spent time in the starting lineup with the Stapletons.
Often, the Boldings and Stapletons are joined in the lineup by sophomore Ruby White, who has an older sister on the team, senior Anna White.
Senior Lexi Knight was joined this season by her sister, freshman Cami Knight, who plays for the junior varsity squad.
The Royals had four groups of sisters a year ago, too. It included Chloe O’Neal and Makenzie O’Neal. Chloe graduated last year. Makenzie is a sophomore on this year’s club.
“There’s a better communication bond – It’s kind of like twin telepathy, even though we’re not twins,” Caroline said. “We know what the other is thinking, sometimes. We understand each other so much better rather than other teams that are just friends. We know each other on a different level.
“I would say there’s a really good connection with all eight of us.”
Doud is in her 18th year of coaching and sixth at EHHS. She’s had sisters on her teams before, but never more than one set.
“All four sets of sisters come from great families,” Doud said. “A lot of times, both Boldings, both Stapletons and a White are on the floor. A lot of the chunk of time (on the court) is occupied by sisters. I know that’s neat for families to see both kids on the court at the same time.”
The Knights have done that, too. Even with Cami, as a frosh, playing on the junior varsity.
Lexi went to Doud and asked to play some reserve team quarters, so she could be on the floor with her sister.
“At first, I was a little nervous how it would be because I haven’t played with the freshmen before,” Lexi said. “Once I started practicing and became more comfortable, it’s been an amazing experience and I would not trade it for anything.”
“I didn’t think we’d get a chance to play together,” Cami added. “It’s more comforting to have her out there playing with me, too. I have someone I know and trust with the ball.”
The Boldings and Stapletons have played together for a long time.
Emma said that since elementary school the foursome have often played together in both basketball and softball. All four are also part of the school’s softball team.
“Us and the Stapletons have been playing together since rec ball, little league and elementary, then middle school,” Emma said. “We’re really used to each other. Eventually the Whites came into the scene around middle school and that added to the chemistry, and it’s just been building up since then.”
“I kind of like to see the different kind of chemistry the sisters bring on to the court,” Sammie Bolding added. “Especially when it’s the Bolding sisters and the Stapletons and one of the other sisters. I like to see how the sisters bond together.”
With two years difference in age, the Whites haven’t always played together.
Last year, when Ruby was a freshman, was the first time they’d played on the same team in basketball. Both are also part of the Eastern Hancock track and field program. This year, Anna was a manager on the volleyball team, a sport her younger sister plays.
“At first it was kind of weird because we never grew up playing together,” Anna said. “It was nice at the same time. I got a chance to play with her and we bonded a lot.
“If Ruby hadn’t played volleyball I probably wouldn’t have been the manager. It’s my senior year. I wanted to see her play. The first three years I cheered during the fall and I didn’t get to go to her games. It’s nice to be a part of that.”
The octet of sisters aren’t just bonding on the practice court and in games.
“We even all hang out together outside of basketball,” Ruby said of the Royals sisterhood. “There are times at practice where we do fight like dogs, but it is very enjoyable to be together.”
Doud added, “Sisters might get on one another. Sometimes you see that sibling rivalry come out, but the love is always there.”
Along with the sisters playing together, they are playing well together, too.
This year’s Eastern Hancock group is 15-6 and finished second in the Mid-Eastern Conference with an 8-1 record. All the losses have come against either ranked schools or schools that are playing in a larger classification.
The Royals version of Sister Act make up the team’s top scorers. Sammie Bolding averages 12.8 points and Grace Stapleton is also in double figures at 11.3 per game. Emma Bolding averages 7.7 points and Ruby White contributes 6.9 per outing. After O’Neal at 5.8 points, Caroline Stapleton averages 5.7.
Ruby, who is 6-1, is the team’s top rebounder at 5.5 per game. Grace leads in assists (3.7) and Sammie is tops in steals (3.4).
Anna White and Lexi Knight have both been key players off the bench. Anna has played in 14 games and Lexi has seen action in 13 contests.
They’re all part of a winning team with a very special and unique bond.
“I think it’s a lot more helpful (having all the sisters),” Grace said. “Team is like a family. Already having pieces of family in our team, it is easier to get along like we are family.”
