Kingsway's Hahn sisters aren't twins, but might as well be

They describe their on-court chemistry as "twin telepathy."

And if you didn't know any better, at first glance, you might think Maddie Hahn and Zoe Hahn were actually twins.

"They're a year apart, but I can tell you this," said longtime Kingsway coach Karyn Pickard, "they're the tightest sisters I've ever seen in my life."

The Hahn sisters are the star players for a Kingsway girls' basketball squarely among the top teams in South Jersey and the clear favorite in the Tri-County Conference.

Zoe, a senior, stands 6 feet. After a major growth spurt this summer, Maddie, a junior, now stands about 6-foot-2.

Both are tall, both have similar builds. And both are hard to miss on the court.

But what makes them particularly similar is their uncommon skill sets.

Though they're generally the tallest players on the court, they drive to the net like guards. They're fluid ball-handlers, strong outside shooters and adept distributors.

The two sisters, in fact, are so versatile, that it often seems like there's more than two of them. From possession to possession you might find them anywhere on the court, doing anything their team needs in a particular situation.

When asked what position the two actually play, Pickard laughed:

"I don't tell anyone that," she said. "We play them wherever we need them."

More than anything, the sisters' chemistry with each other stands out. The two have been on the same team since second grade - Maddie would often play up a level before high school just to be on Zoe's team. And their ability to find each other on the offensive end is uncanny.

"It's like second nature to us at this point," Zoe said. "Playing basketball is just something we've always loved to do. When we were little we were really into every sport. We played soccer for a while. But the taller we got, the more we knew we were going to focus on basketball."

Added Maddie: "We know how lucky we are - we get along really well, and that transfers onto the court. And chemistry is so important on the court. Right now our team has been playing so well because everyone gets along so well off the court and everyone is playing with great chemistry and contributing on the court."

Versatility is something both said they worked on before this season. Before she was 6-foot-2, Maddie was strictly a guard, and her guard-like skills haven't waned with her newfound height.

She's averaging 14 points per game for the 6-2 Dragons, ranked No. 9 in the Inquirer's Top 10.

Zoe has been a dominant post player since her freshman year, and she recently scored her 1,000th point on December 30.

Despite missing most of the preseason and the team's opener with a concussion, Zoe is averaging 12 points per game. She said she's worked on her ballhandling, and she's showcasing a shot just as lethal from outside as it is in the paint.

"We know how important it is to be versatile," Zoe said. "We know it's tough to stop a girl who is 6-foot and can dribble."

Though they're undecided on where, Zoe and Maddie said their goal is to eventually play on the same college team.

Next year will be a big adjustment with Zoe in college and Maddie still at Kingsway - and basketball might be the least of their worries.

"We're basically best friends," Maddie said. "When she leaves next year, my social life is going to be completely different."

Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.