NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Kasey Devine to Erica Kirwan. Kirwan to Devine. The North Kingstown junior captains are the high school basketball version of the WNBA Houston Comets' tandem of Tina Thompson and Sheryl Swoopes.
The center-forward combination has been talked about ever since they first began playing with each other back in the seventh grade, and now representatives from universities across New England are heading to the Skipper gymnasium to recruit the two North Kingstown stars.
There is a simple reason why.
"Nobody goes to the basket better than Erica in the open court," North Kingstown coach Mick Klitner said. "And nobody gives her the ball better than Kasey. She is a great passer. She hits Erica very, very well. They have such a connection there. It's been that way since they were in the seventh grade."
The two combine for about 40 of the Skipper's points every time out.
"That's been forever," Devine said about her connection with Kirwan. "I know exactly where she is going and she finishes all the time."
The two helped lead North Kingstown to a 17-1 record and the Division I-South crown last year before the Skippers were upset in the semifinal of the playoffs. This year, North Kingstown hopes to go one step further and play for the state crown.
"We just want to have fun," Devine said. "Hopefully, we will do as well as we can in the playoffs. I'm not saying anything about that, though, because I don't want to jinx ourselves. We do that way too much. But we want to play hard and have fun."
That attitude has propelled North Kingstown out of the gate to a 3-1 record and the word around the league is that the Skippers are once again one of the top teams in the state.
"They made it to the final four last year and they are a good team again this year," Ponaganset coach Paul Shawver said. "Those two (Kirwan and Devine) have a solid inside game."
So far, the only answer teams have had for Kirwan, a speedy forward who can dribble with the best of them, and Devine, an athletic center who is an excellent passer, shooter, rebounder and shot-blocker, have been to foul them when they get close to the basket.
The two combined for 21 free throws -- 11 for Kirwan and 10 for Devine -- against Ponaganset in their home opener.
"We should be going to the line more than anyone because they tackle her (Devine) in the post all the time," Klitzner. "We went to the line 39 times against La Salle."
Ironically, North Kingstown's lone loss came to the Rams in overtime. The Skippers missed 22 free throws and turned the ball over 40 times that game.
But what makes the Skippers so dangerous is that they are not just a two-girl team. North Kingstown doesn't have a single senior on the team, but juniors Jeannie Records, Stephanie Hareld, Leah Rosin-Pritchard, Tara Padula, Leah Hayes and Caroline Feaster, along with Kirwan and Devine, will all play key roles for the Skippers.
With sophomores Laura Civic and Meghan O'Dell, and freshman Collen Murray gaining experience, the Skippers will be dangerous for several years to come.
North Kingstown will be back in action Wednesday it hosts Woonsocket. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
