Hamden Hall’s sharp-shooting rising senior guard Rachel Plotke has already eclipsed the 1,000-point mark.
So far this summer she’s devoted her time to becoming a better passer. Now she will devote time to learning more about her Jewish culture, while also showing off those improved passing skills.
Plotke will be playing for the Team USA juniors in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel.
“I’m very excited to participate,” Plotke said. “Not only do we play basketball, but we also tour with the team and go to different sites.”
The World Maccabiah Games is a Jewish-only Olympics-style competition. Athletes from 70 countries compete in sports ranging from baseball and basketball to cricket and fencing now through July 30 in Israel. Plotke’s team opens against Australia in preliminaries on Sunday.
Plotke said she found out about the Games through a friend, but missed the tryout. So she sent Team USA head coach Sherry Levin a highlight tape. Levin liked what she saw and Plotke was added to the team. But it wasn’t the first time Levin saw Plotke play.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see her play at Hamden Hall when she played for the NEPSAC championship, because my team was there playing in Class C,” Levin said.
Levin, who also coaches at Beaver Country Day School in Brookline, Mass., said Plotke will no doubt enjoy her first Maccabiah Games.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I know she’s looking forward to,” Levin said.
Part of that experience is getting to tour Israel. Plotke said she is excited to meet new people and see everything her culture has to offer, but she is also looking forward to showcasing her growing game overseas.
“I think I’m going to improve a lot from this experience,” Plotke said, “because it’s going to be a whole different game.”
Hamden Hall coach Megan Borelli agrees, especially since Plotke has been working on her point guard skills with her AAU team, the Connecticut Hornets. The 5-foot-5 guard knew if she wanted to play basketball after high school, she had to become a better passer.
Borelli said her improved passing will help her after high school, but will also help Hamden Hall this season.
“It’s going to be huge for us,” Borelli said. “Losing our point guard (Krystina Reynolds) and not having anyone come in, she’s going to need to step into that role.”
But for now, Plotke will be swishing and dishing for her country and learning about her culture.
“It’s going to be a really good experience,” she said, “especially connecting with other Jewish athletes. I’m excited for that.”
