Defensive effort boosts Warriors to 37-35 victory
Published in the January 13, 2016 edition
GRACE HURLEY, a senior, led the Warriors offensively with 14 points and had about half a dozen steals on defense last night at the Charbonneau Field House. The WMHS girls’ basketball team edged Burlington by a 37-35 score. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High varsity girls’ basketball team played Burlington on Tuesday night in front of a home crowd at Charbonneau Field House for the first time since the new year began.
The Warriors fell behind in the first and trailed by two points at halftime but used a strong defensive performance in the third and fourth quarters, coupled with some clutch shooting, to come away with a two-point win, 37-35.
The win marks the fourth victory of the year for head coach Meghan O’Connell’s squad as its record now stands at 4-4.
Burlington got the scoring started after a dry couple of minutes to start things off in the opening quarter, then Wakefield’s Hannah Dziadyk got to the free throw line and made 2-of-2 to tie the score.
Wakefield managed just eight points in the first quarter and trailed 14-8 after one.
Wakefield’s senior captain Grace Hurley had a magnificent game and it really all began for her in the second quarter. After not scoring in the first, Hurley scored seven of her game high 14 points in the second, including a three-pointer. Allee Purcell and Gabby Joly had one basket apiece to account for Wakefield’s 11 second quarter points.
“Grace played a complete game today,” Coach O’Connell said after the game.
The story for Wakefield in the second was defense as the Warriors held Burlington to just seven points. The Warriors managed to cause several turnovers that led to points on the fast break. One of Hurley’s baskets and Purcell’s layup came off steals from the dribbler leading to fast break points.
At halftime, Wakefield trailed 21-19.
In the third quarter, the tenacious defense continued as Burlington was only able to manage six points in the frame.
Once again, Wakefield scored 11, but this time the points were a bit more spread around. Hannah Dziadyk led the way with five of her seven points, including a three-pointer.
Then Wakefield had a 6-0 run started by a basket by Purcell on another turnover. Hailey Lovell had a layup after the Purcell basket and then Hurley had another steal, of which she had about a half dozen and got to the basket to make it an eight point Wakefield lead at 30-22.
Burlington got five points back before the end of the quarter as the Warriors couldn’t stop the Red Devils’ Nicole Scola, who led her team with 12 points. Emily Han hit a three-pointer late in the third to cut Wakefield’s lead down to just three, 30-27.
In the fourth quarter, Wakefield opened the eight point lead right back up following a quick 5-0 spurt. Lovell made a tough basket and took the contact, sending her to the free-throw line, where she missed the bonus shot. But Wakefield still led 32-27.
After a stop at the other end of the floor, Hurley nailed a three-pointer to make the lead eight again. Wakefield scored just seven points in the fourth and they came on a pair of Hurley free throws with 16.5 seconds to go to put the Warriors up 37-33.
“She hit those clutch free throws at the end,” the coach said of her senior captain sealing the deal.
Scola scored for Burlington but the Red Devils failed to foul quickly and Hurley didn’t step to the line again until there were just three seconds to play.
Hurley missed the front end of the one-and-one but with so little time left, Burlington could only manage a desperate half court heave and it didn’t even come close. Wakefield walked away winners, 37-35.
The win sets up the team nicely with some momentum for the next game when Watertown comes to visit on Friday.
“It was a great team win. Defensively I thought we were awesome,” said O’Connell. “We held them to 35 points, 14 in the second half. We were pressing the whole game the girls did a really nice job.
“Offensively we had some good ball movement,” the coach added. “They just grinded it out. We’re seeing improvement all season.”
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WAKEFIELD 37, Burlington 35
At Charbonneau Field House
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Burlington (35) — Han 2 2 7; Scola 4 4 12; Woods 1 2 4; Dalla Santa 1 0 2; Flaherty 1 0 2; Lupo 0 0 0; Moreira 1 0 2; Rosberg 2 0 6; Wilson 0 0 0; McDonald 0 0 0; McGurl 0 0 0. Totals 12 8 35.
WAKEFIELD (37) — H.Butler 0 0 0; Joly 2 0 4; Hanley 0 0 0; Hurley 5 3 14; Joyce 0 0 0; Lovell 2 0 4; O.Dziadyk 1 0 2; E.Butler 0 0 0; Purcell 3 0 6; H.Dziadyk 2 2 7. Totals 15 5 37.
Score by Quarters — Burlington 14-7-6-8 — 35. WAKEFIELD 8-11-11-7 — 37.
Three-point FGs — Bur, Rosberg 2, Han 1. Wak, Hurley 1, H.Dziadyk 1.
