THE NRHS girls’ basketball team won the 2024 NR Holiday Invitational on Dec. 29, defeating Malden Catholic 42-36. The team improved to 7-0 with recent wins over Lynnfield and Newburyport. (Eric Evans Photo)
After press time:
North Reading falls to Pentucket 42-35 (Jan. 13)
North Reading defeats Georgetown 57-23 (Jan. 10)
NORTH READING — On Dec. 29, the North Reading girls’ basketball team captured the 2024 North Reading Holiday Invitational championship with a hard-fought, 42-36 win over a big and talented Malden Catholic team.
The game was close throughout with the Hornets taking a 10-5 first quarter lead and the Lancers using a strong second quarter to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.
North Reading came into the third quarter with aggressive defensive pressure to regain a 31-28 lead after three quarters and finished off a solid fourth quarter for the win.
Sophomore Sophia Gallivan, named tournament MVP, had an all around great performance with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Sophomore Ariana Demetri scored all 13 of her points in a hot second half and also added 3 assists and 4 steals. Junior Addie Hajj earned an all tournament selection with her 8 rebounds and great defense holding the 6’2” Malden Catholic center to 1 point.
The Hornets welcomed in the 2025 New Year with a 37-29 road win at Lynnfield on Jan. 3. The game was a defensive battle all night with the Hornets taking a 10-8 lead late in the first quarter and holding on for the remainder of the game, leading at all of the checkpoints 14-8 first quarter, 22-18 halftime and 32-25 after three quarters.
Gallivan (15 points, 5 assists), senior captain Kiersten Higgins (10 points, 8 steals) and Demetri (7 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) led the way for North Reading.
It was another strong defensive team effort for the Hornets as they forced 26 Lynnfield turnovers with Hajj, senior Grace Higgins, junior Makenzie Murphy and junior Sara Suny all making solid contributions.
SOPHIA GALLIVAN was named MVP of the NR Invitational after leading the Hornets to a championship with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks in a victory over Malden Catholic in the title game. (Eric Evans Photo)
On Tuesday night in North Reading, the Hornets hosted the Newburyport Clippers and pulled out an exciting come-from-behind win, 39-38.
After falling being 20-8 after the first quarter, North Reading put the clamps on defensively, outscoring Newburyport 31-18 over the final three quarters.
Trailing 34-31 entering the final period, North Reading really turned up the pressure, holding their opponents to only four 4th quarter points.
North Reading took a three-point lead with 2:30 remaining but Newburyport scored their only four points of the quarter to take a 38-37 lead with 1 minute to play. Both teams traded multiple defensive stops before North Reading got one last chance down a single point.
Gallivan (16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) penetrated the Newburyport defense and laid a perfect pass to Hajj (10 points, 5 steals) for the game winning hoop with two seconds left on the clock.
Kiersten Higgins (6 points, 6 steals), Demetri (4 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals) and Murphy (5 points, 7 rebounds) provided scoring support while Grace Higgins and Suny played tremendously on the defensive end.
“Our team defense and relentless 32-minute effort was the key to our win,” said head coach Bob Romeo. “For the first time this season, we were trailing by double digits but the girls just kept grinding and their all-out effort got us over the top in this one.”
Next up for the Hornets is Georgetown who visits NRHS on Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
