Pound Pioneers 42-19

Published in the January 12, 2017 edition

NRHS FRESHMAN Alexandria Grasso races past her Ipswich opponent during last weekend’s game. (John Friberg photo)

NRHS FRESHMAN Alexandria Grasso races past her Ipswich opponent during last weekend’s game. (John Friberg photo)

DAN NUNN

LYNNFIELD — The Hornets girls’ basketball team extended their winning streak to three games by pounding the Lynnfield Pioneers 42-19 on the road Jan. 3.

Sophomore Casey McAuliffe was superb once again with 18 points, including five 3-pointers.

North Reading came out of the gates red hot in the first quarter. The Hornets scored 18 points and held an 18-4 lead after one. In the second quarter, the defense was turned up and the Pioneers were held to just two points.

The Hornets took a commanding 26-6 lead into the half. North Reading was on cruise control in the second half and maintained at least a 20-point lead. They coasted to the easy victory.

Roll over Everett 70-43

Junior Victoria Grasso scored a career-high 16 points to help lead the Hornets to their fourth straight victory as they rolled past the Everett Crimson Tide 70-43 on Jan. 4.

Senior captain Katerina Hassapis added 14 points and Casey McAuliffe had her seventh game in double figures with 10 points.

North Reading got off to another great start. They scored 16 points in the first quarter and led 16-7 after one.

But the Hornet offense really caught fire in the second and third quarters. North Reading outscored Everett by an astounding margin of 43-23 and took a 59-30 lead into the fourth. The Hornets cruised from there and flew on to victory.

Winning streak snapped

The unbeaten Amesbury Indians snapped the Hornets’ four-game winning streak with their 72-57 victory last Friday night. Katerina Hassapis led the way with a season-high 19 points. Casey McAuliffe had her eighth straight game with double digits with 12 points.

The Hornets opened the game strong and held a 21-17 lead after the opening quarter. In the second quarter however, Amesbury turned things around. They outscored North Reading by eight and took a 38-34 halftime lead.

The Indians controlled the second half, continually expanding the lead until the final whistle.