Girls’ basketball lost to the Needham Rockets 38-43 in a well-fought battle Friday, Jan. 10, in the Reggie gym.
“We had moments where we were in sync and doing the right things, but we had a tough shooting night,” said head coach Todd Sundstrom.
In the first quarter, North controlled the scoreboard with aggressive defense, forcing the Rockets to lose possession of the ball by executing countless steals and rebounds. North benefited from Needham’s inaccurate shooting but the Rockets kept up with the Tigers by using strong passes and creating opportunities through effective ball movement and finding open players.
In the second quarter, North kept the score close, driving through the center to score in the paint and shooting easy layups. Despite the team’s efforts, Needham was able to score a clutch three-pointer with a minute left. By the end of the quarter, the Tigers trailed 13-20.
According to freshman Annabelle Wardly, the team’s transitional defense and offense helped the Tigers demonstrate high energy and intensity throughout the game.
However, in the third quarter, Needham gained newfound momentum and took advantage of North’s high missed shot percentage with strong defense. The Tigers fought to make a basket with their aggressive plays, however, they missed many crucial three-pointers and potential shot opportunities. In the final seconds of the third quarter, North managed to score a layup, bringing the score to 25-33.
In the final quarter, North was eight down and struggled to catch up in points. The Tigers desperately drew up a play for a quick three-pointer but could not convert. With one minute left on the clock, junior Nikki Rao, a captain along with seniors Devon Burke, Brooke Ufland, and junior Allie Danis, banked on the backboard, stealing a final three-pointer that sealed the game 38-43.
Rao said, “We played good defense and made a good amount of hustle plays. We were getting the looks we wanted to get on offense, but I think we could’ve been more aggressive getting those fifty-fifty balls.”
North, 6-6, defeated Milton, fell to Wachusett, then secured two more wins over Acton-Boxborough and Walpole. The Tigers will play Framingham away Tuesday, Jan. 28.