By Ross Wilson

The South Jersey Rock paid a visit to Woodbury High School to catch up with Sterling's Jessica Copskey. The 6'2" senior is among the best female players ever to play in South Jersey and is a prime reason why the Lady Silver Knights are the top team in the area and currently rated #2 in the state.

Copskey is a mix of finesse and intensity. She can hit from beyond the arc or take her defender down low in the post and do the dirty work. Although she does not look primarily to score, she's leads Sterling High in average (which includes Ernest Turner), and is second in scoring only to Dajuan Wagner in all of South Jersey in points scored per game.

"Jessica averages 37 points per game and we've played some very tough teams. She's just playing at a different level, and she adds so much to the team," said Sterling coach Bill Ulrich. "We're pleased to have her."

The South Jersey Rock was able to slow Jessica down for an interview.

SJROCK: Sterling is one of the top basketball teams in the state. How far do you think you can go this year?

Copskey: Hopefully we can go to the Tournament of Champions. We were state champs last year and going back is what we want to do.

SJROCK: Who are some of the other main contributors on the team and what do they add to the team as a whole?

Copskey: Sam Savage is our point guard. We couldn't do anything without her. She's the leader on our team on and off the court. Kanesha Wright is 6-foot and dominates everyone inside. Chantel Cook, Jen Romeo, Jen Baumann, Alena Williams… we have a lot of players that are really good contributors.

SJROCK: How long have you been playing basketball?

Copskey: I've been playing organized ball since about the 5th grade. My older brother Josh turned me on to basketball. He goes to Siena.

SJROCK: … And how old were you when you realized you had game?

Copskey: (Laughs) I don't know. I'm still told that I "don't" have game!

SJROCK: Do you have any favorite players or players that you look up to or like to watch play?

Copskey: Jackie Donovan. She's one of our coaches. I like a player like her. I admire her (laughs, as coach Donovan walks by). She played for Penn State. Monica Johnson of Wildwood is also pretty good.

SJROCK: What about Ernest (Turner) of the boys' team? What's your relationship with Ernie like?

Copskey: We're all friends. Our school is small enough that everyone knows each other, so we're all friends.

SJROCK: Have you and Ernie ever played one on one?

Copskey: Are you crazy? (Laughs) We've never played one on one.

SJROCK: Do you think you could beat him?

Copskey: No, he's much stronger than me (laughs).

SJROCK: You're supposed to say "yeah" to make this a good big controversial school-dividing story!

Copskey: Okay. Yeah. I could beat him. I bet I could. (More laughs).

SJROCK: (Laughs) Okay. That's more like it. Last thing… Dajuan Wagner scored a hundred points versus Gloucester Township Tech. You're averaging almost 38 points a game. Do you think you could score a hundred?

Copskey: No… I don't think I could score a hundred (laughs).

Good luck to the Sterling Lady Silver Knights and their goal of reaching the Tournament of Champions again this year. They're a formidable team and Jessica Copskey and rest of the girls got game!