Lady C's On A Roll
LATE RUN SAVES CRUSADERS
Junior co-captain Lindsay Werner (7 rebs, 5 assists, 1 stl) poured in a game-high 21 points and freshman Hannah Van Pelt (12 rebs) added 16 points to lead Groton-Dunstable (4-3, 2-0 Midland B) past visiting Quabbin (3-2, 0-1 Midland B), 52-47.
"Well, it was a win. But if we play like that again, against another good team, we'll lose," sighed Coach Mark Hennelly.
GD broke fast taking a14-9 lead thanks to offense from co-captain Celina Antonellis (6 pts.)and Werner and Van Pelt. The advantage ballooned to 30-19 at the end of the half and you had to feel, well not over confident but cautiously comfortable.
However, the Crusaders, taking a page from the Celtics, proceeded to fritter away their 11 point advantage. With 3:17 remaining in the third stanza, the Panthers, on a 12-2 run, trailed 32-31, eventually taking a 38-37 lead at the end of the quarter.
Quabbin grabbed a 43-40 advantage when freshman Danielle Chabot drained a trey and you thought, can GD get something happening?
Magically (not sure that's the right word), GD finally played like they are capable of playing. On a 10-2 run behind a pair of foul shots from Melyssa Langell, a Van Pelt three pointer, an offensive rebound and put back by Jenna Plausse, and a triple from Langell the Lady C's grabbed a 50-45 lead . The GD bench leaped up roaring their approval along with coach Hennelly along with the Groton-Dunstable faithful!
"Just could not get into an offensive flow," commented Hennelly. "But we kept our composure when we got behind. Nice to see the confidence Hanna (Van Pelt) showed taking and making the shot that tied the game. Impressive! I'm so proud of the effort this team gives every night."
LADY C'S DEFEAT PANTHERS
Balanced scoring led by sophomore Melyssa Langell (10 pts.) and junior Lindsay Werner (8 pts.) and stout defense propelled Groton-Dunstable (3-3, 1-0) to a 41-21 win over visiting Marlborough (1-4) in a Midland B game.
All's well that ends well but....the Crusaders came out flat, trailed 4-0 with three turnovers in just over a minute played. GD coach Mark Hennelly called a time out and 'proposed' to the girls that "that was not acceptable."
Play slowly began to turn around. Langell went one for two from the line to get GD on the board. A 9-4 run fueled by Hanna Van Pelt, Werner and a three from Langell knotted the score at 10-10 at the end of the quarter.
Ahead 18-12 early in the second stanza, GD broke the game open with consecutive threes by Van Pelt, Langell and Werner.
A combination of getting some flow to the offense (17 second quarter points) and a stifling, intense defensive effort, held the Panthers to two points in eight minutes that gave the locals their 27-12 lead at halftime.
A highlight reel shot from just over mid-court at the buzzer by Werner had GD comfortably ahead 36-17 at the third stop.
Hennelly continued subbing freely with all 12 players getting substantial playing time. Also scoring were Kim Contonio (5 pts.), Valerie Lutkevich (2 pts.), Alexandra Pray (4 pts.), Kara Jussame (3 pts.) and Jenna Plausse (2 pts.).
"We continue to get better and better," beamed Hennelly. "There were a couple of lapses but overall, I like how the team is progressing. If someone is having an off night, someone else steps up. Kara Jussame, Hanna Van Pelt (7 pts.) hit big buckets for us tonight. They all have an excellent work ethic coming to practice. I am very optimistic."
