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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Coming off a 39-20 win at Bellingham on December 8 in their season opener, the Dover-Sherborn Regional High School varsity girls basketball team took to the floor for their home opener on Tuesday night against Millis.
Unfortunately, the Raiders (1-1) failed to see the same results they did on the road on Friday, as DS struggled to fight off the persistent pressure delivered by the Mohawks and their full-court-press style of defense, and fell 58-26.
DS junior captain and guard Sofia Federico (21) fights off a box-out by a Millis defender and attempts to snare a rebound late in the first quarter.
Millis began the game on an 11-3 run by forcing several turnovers in the DS backcourt that resulted in easy layups, forcing the Raiders to call timeout in order to settle things down. Following the timeout, DS saw immediate results, as they began to spread the floor and make Millis pay for their aggressiveness. Five straight points by junior captain Sofia Federico, which included a three-pointer followed by a pair of free throws, cut the deficit to 14-8 at the end of one.
The Mohawks came out strong to begin the second quarter, outscoring DS 10-2 to take a 24-10 lead. A three-pointer by Federico cut the deficit to 24-13 with about three minutes to play, but a 7-0 run by Millis to conclude the second quarter gave the Mohawks a 31-13 lead entering halftime.
Senior captain Ally Shulman (23) attempts to navigate the ball through a Millis double-team midway through the second quarter.
DS made some adjustments at the break and began pressuring Millis extremely well in the backcourt to begin the second half. The extra defensive pressure by the Raiders resulted in several turnovers by Millis.
However, the Mohawks shot the lights out in the final three minutes of the third quarter; despite DS probably playing the better quarter, Millis entered the fourth with a commanding 46-22 lead.
In desperate need of some clutch shots in order to climb back into the game, the Raiders fell victim to immense pressure in the backcourt by Millis, who greatly contested several DS three-point attempts when the Raiders did get the ball over midcourt. The lockdown defensive play by Millis resulted in the Raiders only being able to muster four points in the final quarter, as the Mohawks prevailed 58-26 to hand DS its first defeat of the season.
DS will try and get back on a winning note when they host Norton on December 21.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
