Shorthanded Girls’ Basketball Team Falls to Worcester

Girls’ varsity basketball made the trek down to Worcester Academy this past Saturday. The team lost 43-37, continuing its two game losing streak and making their record 12-5.

Although three of their starting athletes were sick, the team still went out and played their ill players and gave it all they had.

“Three of five starters were sick with a flu-like cold and tried to play through it. We had two tissue boxes on the sideline throughout the entire game,” senior and team captain Courtney Henrich said, accounting the team’s loss to a lack of healthy players on the team.

“We need to focus on being scrappy and fighting for free balls.”

The girls went into the game with this in mind and each individual intended to step it up. A particular performance by senior and captain Mel Allan was noted by lower Bella Edo. “Mel played really well. I remember, specifically, she made a run down the court and scored a lay-up off a cross-court pass in transition.”

The team was down at the half and hoped that some halftime adjustments by Coach Johnny Griffith would lead to a win over Worcester. The girls went into the second half expecting to make changes. However, Henrich said that the team’s inefficiency in the zone defense and Worcester’s superior ability to outshoot the defense in the second half led to the team’s second consecutive road defeat.

In addition to the team’s ill state, Henrich accounted the team’s loss to poor play overall. “Quite honestly, the lack of superior play from one or more players was a big part of why we were unable to pull out a win,” she said.

Upper Peace Kabari specifically accounted the loss to the team’s inability to make free throws and jumpers saying, “We didn’t make as many free throws as usual.” Kabari also commented on the team’s illness and said, “[Post-graduate] Erika [Steves], our starting forward, and [prep] Ella [Johnson], our starting point guard, were sick. It changed the flow of the game a bit because we were groggy, and definitely had an impact on the result of the game.”

The team is looking forward to adding another win to their record as they face Cushing on Saturday. The team needs to focus on solidifying their defense and making sure that all the girls stay healthy and rested in order to bring their A-game. Looking forward to their next games, Kabari said, “We need to focus on being scrappy and fighting for free balls.” The team also needs to be aggressive and play the game the best they can.