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By Robert Rosen
Hometown Weekly Staff
Basketball is full of highs and lows. For years now the Dover-Sherborn girls’ basketball team has struggled mightily on the court and has been left out of the postseason.
But this year has been different, as the now 5-8 Raiders are fighting for a state tournament spot through sheer grit and determination, as the seniors realize they have one last time to accomplish something they’ve never done before.
But it goes back to highs and lows, when in the recent game against Holliston captain Annika Linden took an inbounds pass from sophomore Allison Shulman with just 1.4 seconds left and buried a short shot off the glass from the baseline for the win.
“We had amazing win against Holliston last Monday,” said Dover-Sherborn coach Kanee Chlebda. “Dana Muckstadt had been sidelined due to injury and the girls stepped up. They knew how important this game was to keep our hopes alive on the season. Allison Shulman, Kelby Weden and Annika Linden stepped up big. Linden hit the game-winning shot from the baseline: a beautiful kiss off the glass.”
With just seven games remaining in the regular season, Chlebda and her players know now is the time when they need to be playing their best basketball, and nothing seems to be directly standing in their way, not even potential pressure of trying to make the tournament for the first time.
“The atmosphere around the gym is extremely positive right now,” Chlebda said. “The girls continue to work hard in practice as well as in games. I spoke early of this group of seniors. They have seen the highs and lows in their high school careers. Which is why I feel they are determined to be the first group to capture those 10 wins.”
Chlebda is looking forward to the remainder of the schedule, especially senior night, which will be bitter sweet for her as this is her first graduating class. She doesn’t feel any pressure will get to her players as many of them have experienced competing for a tournament spot with other sports in the fall and spring.
The Raiders will play Ashland, Norton and Westwood this week.
Robert Rosen can be contacted at news@hometownweekly.net or followed on Twitter @roberterosen.
