The girls varsity basketball team lost to the Tahanto Stags on Friday, Jan. 24, 34-46, but came back to beat the Ayer Shirley Panthers 51-31 on Tuesday, Jan. 28, despite its being an away game and Senior Night for the Panthers.
The Friday night home game against Tahanto started out well enough, with the Trojans in the lead during the first half and tied at the end of the third quarter. Coach Anne McWaters said by the fourth, recent illnesses and a relentless schedule had left the team fatigued and unable to rally in the final quarter.
“I was really pleased with how tough we played despite not being 100%,” said McWaters. “Defensively, we were looking to shut down Tahanto’s two best players by keeping the ball out of their hands. We did have success in holding their best player under her scoring average, so I was happy about that.”
Game high scorer, sophomore Hannah Huelin, managed to rack up 14 points, helping to keep the Stags’ lead to 12 points.
The four days of rest seemed to help the Trojans get back in the game when they met with the Panthers in Ayer on Tuesday, Jan. 28. It was Senior Night for Ayer Shirley, a celebration of the last home game of their seniors’ high school basketball careers, as well as “Fight Like a Kid” night, a fundraiser to support childhood cancer awareness.
“We jumped out to an early lead, but [the Panthers] had the stands packed and the fans rallying them to keep it close,” said McWaters. “It was a 4-point game at halftime, and then they came out of the locker room geared up for the second half, going after every loose ball and cutting our lead to 2 points.”
The coach said she called a timeout to “right the ship,” and the mental reset was enough to motivate her team to lock in on defense. The Trojans grabbed a number of quick steals that led to scores, many by game high-scorer freshman Audrey Burek, who nabbed 19 points. A dominating run in the third quarter that carried into the fourth led Bromfield to a 20-point victory.
With just two games left until postseason, McWaters said she is confident Bromfield will continue on a winning streak. The team played West Boylston at an away game Tuesday, Feb. 4, and is scheduled to host Senior Night Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m., facing off against Murdock at Bromfield.
