BOSTON – Brookline is peaking on the proper time.
In entrance of a raucous Boston Latin dwelling crowd, Brookline produced a one-sided 54-27 ladies basketball highway victory. The Warriors led from begin to end, delivering a balanced scoring assault that included 9 totally different gamers.
“Going into this season, we knew we had offense – however our coaches actually emphasised protection,” mentioned Brookline senior Nefeli Aga-Kitch (16 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 steals), whose grit and tenacity was a trademark of Brookline’s success. “We’ve actually labored on the little issues in follow. Producing that on the court docket has been particular.”
After a tentative opening quarter the place each groups struggled, Brookline ended the primary body forward, 9-5. The sport then swung within the second. A ten-0 run gave Brookline full management, and that was adopted by a livid end that noticed the guests take a commanding 30-12 lead on the half.
A mixture of defensive rebounds and transition factors afforded Brookline a relentless benefit, and turnovers successfully saved Latin out of the sport. Brookline compelled 14 turnovers within the first half, which served because the gas for its unrelenting quick break.
Senior guard Jada Kimbro was a key aspect in Brookline’s defensive dedication. She was lively within the passing lanes, then pushed the tempo on offense.
“We went into the sport desirous to make an announcement,” mentioned Kimbro (8 factors, 5 steals). “It was an necessary recreation, and we performed collectively. We’re all fairly shut as a workforce, and we have now one another’s again. We’re continually there for one another, and that helps maintain us motivated on the court docket.”
The end result was by no means in query all through the second half. Brookline discovered openings within the Latin zone, in addition to capitalized off lengthy rebounds from missed threes. The Warriors prolonged the result in 27 after three, ending the third forward 46-19.
Boston Latin (6-11) is successfully eradicated from postseason competition. The Wolfpack will be unable to hit the .500 mark, and their present energy rating is 15 spots behind the ultimate No. 32 spot essential to crack the tourney.
Senior Mia Saravelas led the Wolfpack with eight factors, and Latin coach Keri Orellana praised her contributions to this system.
“We counted on Mia for out of doors capturing, and that’s one of many causes she made it to varsity 4 years in the past,” mentioned Orellana. “She additionally labored past her soar shot. Mia was decided to enhance defensively, and he or she did – and that set the tone for the entire workforce.”
The win formally qualifies Brookline (10-7) for the Div. 1 event. Assistant coach Jacob Web page, who’s briefly filling in for head coach Kendell Jones, was happy with the workforce’s defensive depth.
“We didn’t begin off the way in which we wished, however the ladies continued to combat and scrap,” Web page. “They saved doing the little issues on the defensive finish, and that allowed us to take over the sport.”
For Brookline, scorers additionally included Isabel Wooden, Allison Levy, Hannah Levine, Skylar Makalusky, Emerson Chan, Ivy Wheeler, and Shiri Artzi. But it was the defensive prowess that made all of the distinction.
With the reminiscence of falling within the first spherical of final 12 months’s tourney nonetheless recent, Brookline possesses grander aspirations for this season. At the moment No. 19 within the MIAA D1 energy rankings, Brookline will look to make noise within the postseason.
“We’re greater than our offense,” mentioned Aga-Kitch. “We take a number of delight in our protection. That’s been the distinction for us this 12 months.”
