Published in the February 4, 2016 edition
SENIOR CAPTAINS Carly Swartz (left) and Julia McDonald (right) go to the floor to fight their Masco opponent for the loose ball. (John Friberg Photo)
By DAN NUNN
Escape Hamilton-Wenham
NORTH READING — Senior captain Carly Swartz’s 19 points led the Hornets past the Hamilton-Wenham Generals 41–34 on January 26. Fellow senior captain Jess Lezon recorded her fifth straight double–double with 13 points and 17 rebounds.
The early part of the first quarter was tight and at the 5:02 mark North Reading held a slim 6–5 lead. But the Hornets went on 8–0 run and opened up a 14–5 lead less than a minute into the second quarter. The closest the Generals would get the rest of the first half was within five and North Reading was up 25–13 at the half.
Hamilton-Wenham battled back in the third quarter. They started the quarter on a 10–2 run and cut the lead to 27–23 at 1:13. The Hornets managed to close the third with five straight points to push the lead up to 32–23.
SENIOR JESS LEZON lays in two points early in the game against Masco. (John Friberg Photo)
Once again at the start of the fourth the Generals clawed back, this time to within two. But the run didn’t faze Swartz who showed her leadership down the stretch and took over. She scored seven of North Reading’s final nine points and the Hornets escaped with the 41–34 victory.
Beat Masconomet, 53-39
The Hornets won their 11th straight game defeating the Masconomet Chieftains 53–39 on Friday night. Jess Lezon continued her All-League caliber season with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Junior Katerina Hassapis chipped in 13 points.
It was a tight first quarter. With 18 seconds left in the quarter the game was tied at 9–9. But from that point the North Reading offense got red hot. The Hornets went on a 21–4 run that bridged the first and second quarters to take a commanding 30-13 halftime lead.
The Hornets were in complete control in the second half. They went up by as many 21 and cruised to their 13th win of the season.
