Stratford Girls Battle Hard but Fall Short Against Weston in a Nail-Biting Contest
January 30, 2024
Staff Writer
In a thrilling matchup on January 29, the Stratford girls' basketball team faced a determined Weston squad, resulting in a closely contested game that ended in a heartbreaking 58-55 loss for the Stratford squad. Despite a quick start that hinted at a potential runaway victory for Stratford, Weston regrouped under the guidance of Coach Scott Courshard, capitalizing on defensive lapses and attacking the rim to secure a hard-fought win.
Box Score:
- Stratford: 14 11 18 10 - 55
- Shyan Rolle: 5 points
- Sarah D Aloia: 5 points
- Lily LaBella: 4 points
- Jazmyn Wright: 9 points
- Lauren Ogrodowicz: 15 points
- Grace Petrie: 12 points
- Emma Petrie: 3 points
- Weston: 10 11 15 22 - 58
- Jenna Bartlett: 2 points
- Sophie Levy: 7 points
- Alexandra Spencer: 5 points
- Maya Stoltz: 14 points
- Avery Kreitler: 12 points
- Anna O’neil: 7 points
- Lexi Banks: 11 points
Lauren Ogrodowicz led all scorers with 15 points, while Grace Petrie contributed 12. The team recognized their inside advantage against Weston and made adjustments in the second half to capitalize on it.
While the defensive effort was commendable, Weston's offensive efficiency proved challenging for Stratford. Despite effective pressing, the team struggled to contain Weston's, Maya Stoltz’s drives to the rim, and Weston's sharpshooters led by Avery Kreitler, connecting on a combined 8 three-pointers, added to the challenge.
The game's turning point occurred in the fourth quarter when Stratford held a ten-point lead. Weston responded with two consecutive outside shots that tied the game. Stratford had opportunities to secure the win in the closing minutes but couldn't convert crucial offensive looks, and a team-wide struggle from the free-throw line (2-14) added to the challenges.
Despite the loss, players like Lauren Ogrodowicz and Grace Petrie made significant contributions. However, the team collectively faced difficulties connecting at the rim in the closing minutes.
Coach Kelsey Gilmore's team has struggled in closing out games, and this one was very reminiscent of the early season loss to Oxford. In both games the Stratford girls led until the closing minute of each contest leaving the girls disheartened. As Stratford aims to bounce back from this close defeat, Coach Gilmore and the team remain focused on refining their strategy and executing more effectively in critical moments. The resilience shown by the Stratford girls is a testament to their determination, and they look ahead to future matchups with the lessons learned from this challenging game.
Stratford Shyan Rolle 2 0-0 5 Sarah D Aloia 2 0-0 5 Lily LaBella 2 0-0 4 Jazmyn Wright 4 1-4 9 Lauren Ogrodowicz 7 1-6 15 Grace Petrie 6 0-3 12 Emma Petrie 1 0-0 3 23 2-14 55 14-11-18-10 — 55
Weston Jenna Bartlett 1 0-0 2 Sophie Levy 3 0-1 7 Alexandra Spencer 2 0-0 5 Maya Stoltz 4 3-8 14 Avery Kreitler 3 4-6 12 Anna O’neil 3 1-3 7 Lexi Banks 5 0-4 11 21 8-21 58 10-11-15-22 — 58
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