SPORTS: Third Quarter Dooms Lady Cs
Despite 24 points from junior guard Lindsay Werner, visiting Oakmont (9-10) squeezed by Groton-Dunstable (8-10), 51-49 in Midland B action. Spartans Josie Dearborn and Haley Maciel scored 15 points and 13 points respectively including key free throws late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. This Jeff O'Neil coached team has improved since their 46-33 loss to the Crusaders in mid-December and was determined to get a split in the season series.
I was having trouble sorting out the game.GD managed seven points in the first eight minutes and trailed14-7 at the end of one.
Oakmont extended the lead to 19-9 on Haley Maciel's three-pointer before the Lady Cs hit 'start.' Led by 10 second quarter points from Werner, Celina Antonellis' aggressive drives down the lane, netting four points and Melyssa Langell's 10 foot jumper, the team went on a nice13-2 run. Werner knotted the score at 21-21going one-for-two at the line with 2:24 left in the half.
For the quarter, GD outscored Oakmont 20-9 and held a 27-23 advantage at the half.
But in the third, the Crusaders offense (looking for a charitable word) sputtered and managed but four points and trailed 34-27 with 3:48 remaining in the quarter.
Langell and Werner, scoring 10 and eight points respectively, tallied all the team's offense in the fourth kept it close. The teams were tied 48-48, with 48 seconds remaining in regulation but GD could not get it done.
O'Neil's girls moved the ball well, made buckets and foul shots in the fourth when they needed them. "Hayley (Maciel) directed the offense and made those big three's for us," smiled O'Neil. Unfortunately, we are one game short of making districts," said O'Neil.
Another Herculean effort from Lindsay Werner who gives it her all scoring, rebounding and whatever it takes to try and help the team win.
Melyssa Langell (12 pts.), Hanna Van Pelt (6 pts.), Celina Antonellis (5 pts.) and Kara Jussaume along with Werner provided the offense for the Crusaders.
"Friday night (Oakmont) was a tough loss for several reasons," revealed GD coach Mark Hennelly. "In my opinion, we did not play with the urgency the game required. The up and down fluctuations cannot happen at this point of the season if we want to consistently win," I continue to feel that the future is bright considering the tremendous growth of players like Kara Jussaume, Jenna Plausse and Hannah Van Pelt throughout the season. We are determined to make districts this year and it is going to take underdog victories at Notre Dame and at Shrewsbury to achieve this goal. I can assure you we will be fighting to the very end regardless of the outcome!" he concluded.
