ABC 6 Prep of the Week: Hope and Emma Dudycha

(ABC 6 News) — Many things are better in pairs.

The pair of Hope and Emma Dudycha have pushed Austin girls basketball into a quality team the past few years.

"Since they’ve stepped foot on this varsity team as eighth-graders," Packers head coach Eric Zoske said. "We have a record of ninety wins and forty-one loses and that doesn’t happen without them. So, I think it’s their overall desire to want to win."

Each sister has left their own mark on the team; Hope recently became the Packers’ all-time leading scorer in a section win over Byron on March 5th.

"It hasn’t really set in yet since we have such big goals for the remainder of the season," Hope commented. "But it’s really an honor and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates."

Emma set the school record for best three-point percentage her junior year. But what surprised both sisters was scoring the same 24 points against Faribault in another section win.

"I think that’s the first time that’s ever happened," Emma pondered. "And it was really fun cause it was a lot of points."

"I don’t think it’s ever happened before that we’ve scored the exact amount," Hope replied.

"Definitely learned how competitive each other are, cause we get after each other in practice every day," Emma answered back.

From the start, Coach Zoske could tell this duo was destined to change Packers girls hoops for the better.

"When they were freshmen, I remember talking to our assistant coaches about these two about how they’re going to be good. Because we were doing a layup drill and they were looking like it was game seven of the NBA championship. Like, they were just intense in this layup drill. They’re going to focus in and give it their best because they know it’s going to come back in a game and that’s what makes them better."

Now, it’s off to Minnesota Crookston, where the Dudychas can once again make a team better than they were before. The best part as always? They’ll have each other along the way.

"Yeah, having our bond on the court is unreal and it’s just super fun playing with Emma," Hope stated.