New Canaan 7 Red Girls Basketball Wins Close One Over Westport

From the New Canaan Basketball Association: NEW CANAAN, CT — The Westport 7th grade girls came out strong, draining a 3 pointer on the first shot of the game. But rather than let it get them down, the Rams answered as Page Davis scored on a strong move to the hoop for 2 points. The New Canaan Red team’s defense held strong allowing Kara Braccio to start her scoring streak with a nice jumper for 2. Ella Patterson joined the scoring with a high arcing shot to make it 6-4 at the end of the first quarter. Caroline Lanford and Molly Reed directed ably the offense as Emily Tedford handled the duties in the paint against a much larger opponent.

The second period opened with Braccio draining another long 2, as the NC defense was aided by steals by KK Mottolese and Patterson. Braccio added her 3rd basket of the game to end the half with New Canaan up 11-6
Davis opened up the second half, by securing the tip and driving strong on the left for a layup to make it 13-6. Scoring again, but this time with a jumper, Davis extended NC’s lead 15-6

Westport climbed back into it on a fastbreak layup and foul shot, and followed with another basket to narrow the lead, making it 15-11 at the end of the 3rd.

The 4th quarter saw Reed showing great anticipatory defense, stealing two, but unable to convert the layups on the other end of the fastbreak.

Braccio continued her scoring with a rim-roaster that dropped for 2, making it 17-11.

Just when New Canaan looked like they had created a cushion, Westport went on a run, including a 3-pointer, narrowing New Canaan’s lead to 17-16 However Davis responded and scored again draining a shot of the inbounds pass to make it 19-16.

Hard working center Katie Polacek handled the pass inside from Mottolese and turned to put it in for 2 stretching the lead to 21-16. However, Westport wasn’t finished yet. With only a few minutes left in the last quarter, Westport cut the lead to 21-18 and called timeout. Westport put on the full court press, which was broken by Caroline Langford and Julia Dunn, and although Westport closed the score to 21-20, New Canaan’s defense held on for the win 21-10.

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