Senior co-captain Katja Lierhaus shoots over her opponent. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The Bromfield girls varsity basketball team opened its season on Tuesday, Dec. 13, with a blowout, besting the Monty Tech Bulldogs 50 to 16.
Co-captain Montana Burke started the game off with the first 10 points. After nailing a three-point shot from the base line, she sank a jump shot, a left-handed layup, and then another three- pointer.
With only 30 seconds left in the first quarter, senior co-captain Katja Lierhaus scored a jump-shot off the backboard. On the next play, junior starter Casey Magrath intercepted a Monty Tech pass and converted a left-handed layup three seconds before the buzzer sounded. After the first half, Bromfield held an impressive lead over their opponents, with a score of 29 to 2.
Bromfield played a strong zone defense and pressured the Bulldogs with a full-court zone press for nearly the entire game.
“The full-court zone press was definitely a success, and that was only the first time we have had a chance to use this set-up,” Magrath said.
“Our press break worked tremendously well, and we would transition from defense to offense quickly,” Lierhaus said. “Someone would intercept a pass and make a quick pass up the court for someone to lay an easy layup in.”
With seven points and one block, Lierhaus led her team defensively and played strongly throughout the entire game. Bromfield effectively slowed down Monty Tech’s offense, and Bromfield caused two shot-clock violations against the Bulldogs.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Bromfield committed two back-to-back turnovers, and the Bulldogs made two successful runs to the basket.
“Everyone played well,” Burke said. “We need to work on our passing and have fewer turnovers in the next game. It was awesome that the younger kids got some playing time, and as a team, this win will really boost our confidence.”
Burke led the Lady Trojans with a total of 17 points while Magrath finished with nine points.
Junior Casey Magrath tears down the court.
Sophomore Sue Ross scored six points, and senior Molly Papazian contributed five. Additionally, senior Brittany Lee and junior Rebecca Kasabian each scored two, while freshmen Elly Vandervaart and Amy Jorgenson added one point each to the score in their varsity debut.
When asked about the team’s upcoming games, Lierhaus said, “There are definitely things we need to work on as a team and individually, but I think the fine-tuning of the team’s dynamics will come with time through the season. Right now we’re focusing on one game at a time and trying to improve with each game.”
Playing immediately before the varsity game last Tuesday, the junior varsity squad also defeated Monty Tech, winning 38 to 22.
The varsity team lost against Lunenburg Monday night, 60-50. They next face Bartlett on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
