Published in the December 29, 2016 edition
JUNIOR Victoria Grasso puts up a shot in the 2nd half against Triton. (John Friberg photo)
By DAN NUNN
Stung by Sachems 50-35
WEST NEWBURY — In the first road game of the season the Lady Hornets were handed their first loss by Cape Ann League powerhouse Pentucket 50-35 on Dec. 20.
Sophomore Casey McAuliffe continued her strong start to the season, scoring a game-high 10 points. Freshmen Ali Grasso and Lauren Sullivan, both in just their third high school game, scored six points apiece.
North Reading played extremely well in the first half. They held the Sachems to just 13 points and took a 21-13 lead into the half. Unfortunately the game completely turned around in the second half. Pentucket took it to the Hornets, outscoring them 37-14 to go on to the convincing win.
Fall to Triton in overtime
Despite a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double from sophomore Mia DeNofrio, the Hornets suffered a tough 48-41 overtime defeat to the Triton Vikings on Thursday night.
Casey McAuliffe was the only other Hornet in double figures with 10 points.
North Reading got off to a terrible start on offense and was down 9-1 at the 2:38 mark of the first quarter. But after senior captain Katerina Hassapis scored the team’s first basket the offense seemed to get in gear. The Hornets then went on a 10-2 run to battle back and tie the game at 11 all early in the second quarter.
The rest of the second half was back and forth. But with 1.7 seconds left freshman Ali Grasso scored to tie the score at 23-23 at the half.
Early in the third Triton maintained a 26-23 lead. But after back-to-back threes from Hassapis North Reading took its largest lead of the game at 29-26. The Vikings did respond though and fought back to tie the score again at 32-32 after three.
Clutch hoops by McAuliffe
The fourth quarter was a defensive battle and with just 2:19 left the Hornets were down four, 40-36. They continued to battle and with 9.3 seconds left McAuliffe stepped to the foul line with North Reading down 41-39. With ice water in her veins she nailed both free throws and the game headed to overtime.
Unfortunately the Hornets couldn’t muster any offense in overtime. The Vikings held them off the scoreboard and escaped with the 48-41 win.
