Two former Martinsburg Bulldogs helping Navy women’s basketball take game to next level
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (BVM) — When the Navy women’s basketball team takes the court this season, they will have a bit of dog in them. Well, more like a bit of bulldog in them. That’s because this season the team will have not just one, but two former Martinsburg High School Bulldogs on their roster in junior forward Ciera Hertelendy and freshman forward Morganne Andrews.
The duo first teamed up on the court in 2016 as part of a Bulldogs program led by head coach Kyle Triggs when Hertelendy was a senior and Andrews was a freshman, much like they are today. At the time, Martinsburg had a rising girls basketball program, one that had made it to the state tournament four years in a row, though would unceremoniously be bounced in the first round of competition. Though separated by a few years, Hertelendy was quick to take the young Andrews, who played the same position, under her wing.
“She was definitely a quiet little freshman coming in,” Hertelendy said. “I don’t remember much from our time together, but we were always lifting partners and we played the same position so we did spend time together, but we didn’t really have a close relationship because we only had one year together.”
“Since we played the same position it was always a competition between us but it was very friendly,” Andrews said. “She tried to show me the ropes the best she could. She took me under her wing while we were in high school and showed me what she could. I really looked up to her throughout the year and strived to be like her.”
However, with two Division I prospects sharing the court, the Bulldogs were quick to show that they could stand above the rest in the pack. During her final two seasons in Martinsburg, Hertelendy proved that she was not only one of the best players in the Panhandle, but the entire state. In back-to-back seasons, Hertelendy earned West Virginia Class AAA all-state honorable mention accolades. Her senior year was perhaps her best as she was named All-Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
“Overall, I think it definitely prepared me well with the intensity of Coach Triggs practices, his coaching style and the way he always pushes you to be better,” Hertelendy said. “I just felt really, really prepared coming out of Martinsburg. I really enjoyed it.”
🏀🏀🏀 pic.twitter.com/4mQTSIovx4
— Ciera (@chertelendy42) March 1, 2017
As the leader of the team in both her junior and senior seasons, Hertelendy helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back sectional and regional championships over her final two years, though the state playoff drought would continue by the time she left the program to join Navy in 2017.
“When I came for my visit, I loved the atmosphere and I loved the feeling of being on the yard,” Hertelendy said. “It’s just a huge, huge, huge opportunity. Not a lot of people get to say they do this and overall in the end I was thinking of my future and after basketball and this definitely sets me up for a successful future. I loved the opportunity the academy presented and I couldn’t say no to it.”
Congrats to Ciera Hertelendy @chertelendy42 on her signing to attend the United States Naval Academy! #BulldogPride pic.twitter.com/lTyA8yZ0Fs
— Kyle Triggs (@kyletriggs304) May 18, 2017
Then it was Andrews’ turn to become the leader of the Bulldogs. Already a great player in her own right, Andrews became the biggest piece to the Martinsburg team as both a junior and a senior. Andrews would become one of the best players in West Virginia as an upperclassmen when she earned consecutive Class AAA all-state third team honors. For her senior year, Andrews was also tabbed as the conference’s player of the year, just like Hertelendy before her.
“It was great,” Andrews said. “It was something I always worked for, but it’s hard to be satisfied. I was happy with what I got but it’s hard to be satisfied.”
Due in part to Andrews’ success on the court, the Bulldogs were able to maintain their regional dominance by winning two more sectional and regional titles, giving Andrews four of each in her high school career. The Bulldogs, like many of the Eastern panhandle schools before them, were not able to break through the state tournament bubble as even with the Division I commit Andrews, they could not make it past the first round.
For Andrews, it marked the end of a great career with the Bulldogs, but she had plenty of opportunities to play in college.
“I loved [Martinsburg],” Andrews said. “I thought it was a super good learning experience and it really prepared me as far as terminology goes and things along those lines for college.”
When Navy showed attention in her play, Andrews knew she had somebody she could call.
“She definitely gave me an inside look on the team, just the environment and the school,” Andrews said. “It was really helpful to have someone on the inside and telling me what was going on instead of somebody who was just trying to promote the program. It was somebody who was really honest and really realistic. That was helpful.”
“I was always open to her, always letting her know that if she had any questions she could come to me and she definitely did,” Hertelendy said.
With that advice being key to her decision, Andrews would commit to the Navy program where a familiar face would be there to greet her.
“It was just the best of both worlds for academics and basketball,” Andrews said.
“I just thought it was awesome,” Hertelendy said. “Not a lot of people out of the Eastern Panhandle come out and go to a Division I school and to have two from the same high school was exciting. For me, to finally get to know Morganne and have a better relationship with her and continue to work together on and off the court, I was excited for her.”
I am so excited to announce that I have verbally committed to the United States Naval Academy to play Division 1 basketball. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. I wouldn’t be here without all of you💙. @NavyWBB @MHSCoachTriggs @CoachTinyGreen @Tina87020245 pic.twitter.com/8dl0O13toc
— Morganne Andrews (@Morganne_14) July 26, 2019
When the two got on the court, though there were some differences in each other since the last time they played together, the connection was still as strong as ever.
“I think we do have a good connection on the court as far as communication and finding each other on the court,” Hertelendy said. “When you play with someone for a while you learn their tendencies, so I think there’s definitely a connection between us on the court and it’s helpful.”
“You can tell there is chemistry there,” Andrews said. “In practices, we will throw each other passes that otherwise probably wouldn’t be successful with other teammates but we know each other. … With Ciera, I can just throw it and I know she’s going to be there because we’ve had that experience before.”
Also with the new environment, the two have seen their relationship change off the court as well. Though Hertelendy still works as a mentor to Andrews, she is also considered more of a friend than she ever was during their time with the Bulldogs.
“I think we’re probably the closest now that we’ve ever been,” Andrews said. “100 percent.”
“Now what’s even great is we’re in the same company together so she’s right down the hall from me,” Hertelendy said. “I love being that mentor for her because I know when I came in I had a lot of the same questions she had. Especially having that connection from back home it’s like a different level of relationship. … Being older now, we definitely have a better relationship and I’m thankful that now we have two years together. I’m excited to get to know her better not only as a basketball player, but a person as well.”
With both girls back together again, Bulldogs fans will be paying close attention to see if the two can bring similar success to the Mids that they had in Martinsburg. For the Mids, they know they will have two hardworking and dedicated players to contribute to their program for years to come.
