By Tim DeLouchrey & Ethan Walshe
Sports Liaison & Editor-in-Chief
In an overtime thriller, the WA Girls’ Varsity Basketball team came up big against the Algonquin Tomahawks with a final score of 68-59 Tuesday night at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the MIAA CMASS Division 1 Sectional Semi-final.
Going into the matchup, Coach Russell Coward anticipated a competitive contest. WA previously lost to this team in the regular season.
“I think that we’re ready … Algonquin’s very good and very similar to how we play. It’s going to be very close,” said Coward.
Westford was handedly in control through the first quarter as their senior starters helped facilitate an early lead. Senior center Sam Hyslip was hot early, scoring 10 of WA’s 16 first quarter points.
Freshman guard Camille Desrochers also contributed to the lead, scoring a buzzer-beating three-pointer to finish the quarter.
Westford’s dominance continued through the second quarter. Defense was key, as they held the Algonquin offense to only 21 points in the first half of play. Senior guard Cathryn Sennott gave WA yet another buzzer-beating three to extend the lead to 12 at the half. Going into the locker room the score was 33-21.
Unfortunately for Westford, it was a game of two halves. Algonquin’s defense came out strong, holding WA to a disappointing 11-point third quarter. The Tomahawks’ offense began to heat up, as they narrowed the lead to seven due to several three-pointers.
The two teams traded baskets into the fourth quarter. Algonquin’s offense finally broke through as they narrowed down the Ghosts’ lead. With five minutes left to play WA was holding onto a narrow 48-43 lead.
With less than a minute to play Westford’s lead was once again narrowed, this time to only two points. Cathryn Sennott had a spectacular defensive play, stealing the in-bounds pass with 11.7 seconds to play. She was fouled and sunk one of her free throws to give the Ghosts a 56-53 lead.
And then, the unthinkable. With no time remaining, Algonquin guard Lucy LeBlond drained a three-point shot to send the game into overtime. This sudden change in fortune did nothing to dissuade the Ghosts heading into overtime however.
“I think [the team] held their heads for about the five seconds it took to get off the court and then I think we regrouped quickly and said ‘okay, we’ve got to finish this,'” said Coward.
Senior forward Hannah Hackley agreed with her coach’s sentiments.
“We came out [for overtime] poised and composed,” said Hackley.
At the beginning of the four minute extra period, Hackley scored a quick four points to give WA the lead again. From there, strong free throw shooting from both Cathryn Sennott and Hyslip sealed the game for Westford.
Hyslip led all scorers with 28 points.
“I think we stuck through to the end … and we proved that we’re a strong team and we’re not giving up,” said Hyslip.
Westford will face Holy Name Central Catholic in the final game at 6pm on Saturday at WPI.
