By Kathleen McAleese and Ellie Smith
Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor

Westford Academy Girls’ Basketball won what was a nail biter of a game on Tuesday night against Algonquin High School, beating the Tomahawks 40-39. This game was the first round of the Division 1 Central Massachusetts tournament. 

In the first period, freshman Emily Bramanti drained a three point shot after a minute had passed on the clock. From there, Algonquin continued to match WA’s baskets until the score rose to 8-6 WA. The girls then went on to break away to form the largest score differential of the entire game of only six points. 

Algonquin tied the game up in the second, bringing the score from 12-6 at the start of the quarter to 12-12 with about 3 minutes left on the clock. WA’s Karly Bigham was the top scorer for the game and had several clutch shots throughout the contest.

A three point shot by Bigham broadened the Ghost lead to 17-12, but only to be answered by Algonquin yet again. The score at the half was 17-16 with WA still holding onto their lead. 

The third proved to be another quiet quarter with each team scoring less than 10 points. At the end of the third the score stood at 25-22. 

During the fourth quarter, however, the sleepy tone that seemed to settle on the court was gone and both teams rose to the occasion. The Tomahawks maintained a slight lead throughout most of the fourth and with just over  two minutes to go in the game, the score stood at 36-33 with Algonquin in the lead. 

Freshman Allison Mulhern was able to recover two points to add to WA’s score, bringing the home team’s score up to 35. Maddie Russell made a basket for two that gave WA a 37-36 lead with 43 seconds left in the game. 

Bigham also managed to pick up another point with a foul shot, but Algonquin answered and tied the score at 38 with 9.2 seconds left in the game. As tension rose, an Algonquin player was fouled and shooting for one point, made her basket.

With four seconds left in the game and the score at 39-38, freshman Liz Arnold took the ball down court in a full sprint and got fouled as the final buzzer sounded. As the student section erupted along with the rest of the crowd and team, Arnold settled at the line and drained one shot, then another to win the game 40-39 with no time on the clock. 

The student section cleared and stormed the court as Arnold put her hands in the air in celebration. Coach Russel Coward was not impressed with the performance of the team throughout the game, but was overwhelmed by Arnold’s contribution late in the game.

“I will never forget the free throws she made. For a freshman player to swish two shots like that… They were perfect… [It] takes unbelievable talent and guts and concentration. I am so proud of her and of the whole team,” he said.

The Ghosts eliminated Algonquin and will continue in tournament play.

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