By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The Rockets girls’ basketball team headed onto the court Tuesday evening on February 6th, ready to take on the Framingham Flyers. Needham narrowly came out on top, 55-53.
Needham’s freshman Eva Andrews took center court to face Framingham’s Stephie Regan for tip-off. It was just under a minute into the quarter when Framingham’s Caroline Galvani took a first stab at the lead and snagged three points for the Flyers. Needham rapidly responded as Annie Camozzi turned the ball around down to Needham’s offensive end of the court and sunk in four points for the Rockets with two two-pointers.
Suddenly it became evident that Framingham would be controlling the ball into the second quarter. Framingham’s junior, Allie Regan led the court tallying up points for the Flyers, and Framingham’s defense attacked Needham’s offensive moves. Needham’s Noa Brown, Hannah Levine, Callie McCarthy, and others flung the ball around the net, making quick, and snappy moves in hopes of breaking the Flyers’ defense. However, any shot they made to the net seemed to be repelled away before getting a chance to go through. Soon enough, the second quarter buzzer alarmed into the Needham A gymnasium and the first half scored finalized to 18-36 with Framingham in the daunting lead.
As the third period kicked off, the Rockets were ignited. Annie Camozzi, fueled up by the determination to win, started to knock in three-pointers from left to right. Hannah Levine snuck in two more points after Camozzi’s six-point addition to the Rockets’ score. Suddenly, Framingham called a timeout to discuss the awakening of the Rocket’s comeback. Then, Needham’s Camozzi retaliated with two more three-point baskets along with teammate Callie McCarthy, who gave Needham another three-point advantage of her own. By the end of the third quarter, Needham narrowed down Framingham’s lead to make it a five-point game 45-50.
As the fourth quarter began, the girls we ready to declare their win. Camozzi was the first to draw blood in the fourth with another three-point basket that made the crowd go wild, giving Needham 48-50. Levine raced up the court along with her teammates and began making swift passes around the net, the ball landed back in her possession, and she made a quick look and took her shot. The ball flung away from her hands and spiraled into the net, tying the match 50-50. Levine would strike again just a minute later, to give the Rockets their first lead of the night 52-50.
Framingham’s Caroline Galvani sped to the net and quickly made a three-point basket snatching back the lead 53-52. The girls took possession of the ball and began passing as the shot clock dwindled. Camozzi made a sharp pass to Needham’s Eva Andrews, who would go on to make a two-point basket for the Rockets stealing the lead once again 54-53. The Flyers would foul twice in the remaining minute of the competition giving Needham two bonus free throws since Framingham met their quarter limit to five penalties. Rockets’ Noa Brown stood at the free throw line and swooshed in the last basket of the evening, giving Needham their impressive comeback win of 55-53.
Head coach Hannah Carroll was thrilled to see the great comeback and how Annie Camozzi had a momentum shift during the competition: “She (Annie Camozzi) is a stud from the three, she’s one of those players thats got the swish, and knows how to turn it especially when we are down. She hates losing, so she’s that kind of kid who can bring that spark, not in the sense that she can do it all, but she knows she can bring everyone up, and lift us up to get there. She did do alot for us in the second half, and that is the type of kid she is… she lit it up in the second half,” said Carroll.
The Rockets will go to Natick to play Natick High on Friday, February 16, tipoff will be at 6 PM.
