JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times Waterford’s Hannah Duff, center, and Hayley Duff, right, warm up before Wednesday’s high school girls basketball game against Warren in Vincent. The Duff sisters have been key contributors to one of the top Division IV programs in Ohio.

WATERFORD — As Hannah Duff was answering a question and wasn’t quite sure what to say next, her twin sister Hayley didn’t hesitate and completed the sentence.

Funny thing, though, it’s usually Hannah getting the assist as Waterford High School’s starting point guard the past two seasons.

“I absolutely love playing with my sister,” Hannah said. “We’ve been playing together since we were 5. We’re constantly pushing each other. It’s a lot of fun to share those memories with her.”

The Duffs have been on the varsity roster the past four seasons, and have helped lead the Wildcats to three consecutive Division IV Ohio State Tournament appearances. At 13-1 and ranked second in the state, Waterford could make it four in a row.

Of course, all-state selections Megan Ball and Alli Kern are the team’s top two players, but Waterford coach Jerry Close said the Wildcats’ success has been the cohesiveness of the entire team. He credits the Duffs for much of that success.

“They have both been instrumental in our success,” Close said. “They both come in and work hard every day. They’re great kids, and they understand their role on our team.”

Close has asked them to do more than either 18-year-old probably thought they could when they first started playing varsity basketball.

The 5-foot-4 Hannah is the point guard and leads a potent Waterford attack, while the 5-6 Hayley covers every opponent’s tallest player.

“Hannah’s had a great year handling the ball and scoring when we need her. It’s been nice, and that’s one position where you don’t normally score a lot,” Close said. “Hayley is in a tough spot. She’s been asked to cover the other team’s post player and has been outsized by four, five or six inches, but she fights back and finds a way to get things done.”

Both relish the opportunity.

“It’s just a role I’ve had to take on. We run a five-guard system, and I’m not a big person,” Hayley said. “I just work my hardest to front the post, and it’s all trust from there that my teammates will get there when needed.”

Hannah is comfortable playing the point.

“I’ve been a point guard my whole life, so you have to be OK with getting the assists,” she said. “I love getting the ball to the girls and not scoring as much doesn’t bother me.”

Tina and Duane Duff’s daughters attended Churchtown St. John through eighth grade and grew up in Marietta. They didn’t know many of their current teammates until they arrived at Waterford as freshmen. But they said there was an immediate connection.

“We all just came together as a family. We all work together. There is no jealousy with anyone, and we just love each other,” said Hayley, who plans to study at Washington State Community College for two years before transferring to Ohio University to earn an engineering degree. “It’s not a front that we put on. On and off the court we are best friends. We’ll all go to Jukebox Pizza and eat together, and just hang out together.”

Hayley said it can be nerve-wracking, but it’s worth it.

“People expect us to make it to state now,” she said. “We’ve had an opportunity to get big heads about it, but we know how hard we have to work and we know the competition is working hard too. Every year it has gotten harder, but we can’t let the community down because they’ve been with us all of the time.”

Hannah, who plans to attend Ohio University in the fall and study biology, said they are trying not to think about their careers coming to an end, but they know it’s close.

“We’re doing this for the community,” she said. “Everybody on the team is doing this for our community, who has shown great support. Every day in practice we work our hardest because we want to win for the Waterford community …”

Once again completing her sister’s answer, Hayley added, “I hate to think about that right now. It’s easy to say I’m going to get sad and shed a few tears. Whenever it hits, I don’t even think I can imagine how hard it will be for us.”