With the 2024 autumn sports season coming to an end, coaches and athletes are preparing for their winter sports, including basketball. After tryouts, the girl’s team faced Burlington in their second scrimmage on Sunday, December 8 at Westford Academy, winning 31-27.
WA braced the court with enthusiastic energy, ready for their second scrimmage. Junior Brooke Neilson won the jump ball, and momentum quickly picked up. Sophomore Alexa Coward received the ball briskly, assisting junior Hannah Lupien, who scored the first basket of the scrimmage. Moments after WA’s basket, Burlington swiftly scored, tying the game 2-2.
The first quarter followed with many turnovers and a majority of baskets scored by Lupien. Coward also scored, adjusting the scoreboard to 8-7 for WA. However, Burlington rebounded the ball and scored at the last second, changing the score to 9-8 Burlington.
During the second quarter, both teams were even more aggressive than the first, and the defense was much stronger and more competitive. The sidelines were also very attuned to the scrimmage, shouting encouraging words and advice to the players.
This fast-paced quarter started with junior Olivia Pillsbury making a basket increasing the score to 12-10 Burlington. With Burlington leading, WA called a timeout to discuss game strategy.
“We always come in with a game plan, and evolve as the game goes on. [Just to] see what happens out there,” assistant coach Camille Desrochers said.
Directly after the timeout, Lupien gained another basket tying the scrimmage 12-12. WA fought to defend their side of the court against the tough competitors. By the end of this quarter the score was 20-19 with Burlington in the lead.
“I think we started the game strong, but [Burlington] responded well and we backed off so we had to come out after halftime on another level, and I think we did improve our play in the second half,” senior captain Erin Keefe said.
The third quarter was even more action packed as WA fought hard to make a comeback. Senior Faith Williams scored the first basket with an assist from Coward adjusting the score to 21-20 WA. However, Burlington quickly came back with another basket. There were also two foul shots for both Coward and Pillsbury, and by the end of the third quarter the score 31-27 WA.
The coaches then mutually decided to reset the scoreboard for the fourth quarter because it was a scrimmage. In this quarter, the coaches were giving more advice and walking through the plays, treating it like a practice.
“This is just a scrimmage so everybody can get some practice in [and] coach Coward wanted to work on a few things,” Desrochers said.
Burlington scored first but junior Saanvi Jha quickly scored a basket, making it 3-2 for WA. Junior Brooke Neilson followed right after. The final score for the fourth quarter with the reset scoreboard was 5-4 for WA.
For the fifth and final quarter of the scrimmage they reset the scoreboard again. This quarter led with many turnovers with WA players on defense, wanting to stay in the lead. Sophomore Keira Ash scored a basket with sophomore Emma Pavao scoring right after increasing the score to 6-3 WA. There were two foul shots in this quarter as well taken by Ash and Jha. The final score for this quarter was 12-5 WA.
After the scrimmage senior captain Erin Keefe talked of the goals for this season as well on what could be improved.
“I think we could improve off ball movement on offense, and being more physical and strong both on and off the ball. We also need to work on our rebounding,” Keefe said.
The first game of the 2024-2025 WA Girls’ Basketball season will be on Friday, December 13 at Westford Academy in the main gym against Maynard.
