[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Coming off a 53-31 win at Norton on January 24, the Medfield High School girls basketball team fell 64-33 on Friday night to TVL nemesis Hopkinton (12-2, 11-1). Friday marks just the second time this season that the Warriors have not been able to come out victorious, and it is their first defeat in conference play, ending their TVL win streak at nine games.
The Warriors (11-2, 9-1) came out sporting their pink uniforms in honor of breast cancer awareness and got off to a fast start against the Hillers, jumping out to a quick 13-2 lead thanks to two three-point shots by senior guard Allie Petit and a three-point play by junior captain and guard Maggie McCarthy. Medfield was able to contain the Hopkinton offense in the backcourt during the first quarter by pressing the full length of the floor and forcing multiple Hiller turnovers.
The lady-Warriors continued to press Hopkinton to begin the second quarter of play while ahead 13-7. However, the Hillers were able to adjust to the backcourt pressure with about six minutes remaining in the quarter by quickly passing the ball up the floor to their top scorer, Julia Canestrari, who was able to use her 6’0” frame to hoist the ball high in the air and prevent the Warriors from stealing back possessions. After figuring out a way to prevent the trap, the Hillers fought back and took a 10-point lead after a massive 25-7 run during quarter two and going back to the final two minutes of the first.
Medfield forward Lauren Casieri kept the Warriors in it following the massive offensive surge by Hopkinton, as the senior captain potted six points for Medfield in the final three minutes of the quarter to cut the deficit from 10 to six at the half at 27-21.
Despite a valiant effort by the lady-Warriors in the third and fourth quarters of play, the Hillers were able to find ways around the backcourt trap that Mark Nickerson’s team has become so famous for this season, outscoring Medfield 37-12 in the second half to pull away late for the 64-33 victory.
The Warriors will look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to Medway on February 3.
