Oxford Girls BBall Prevails in 2-Point Win Over Stratford

Senior captain sank two free throws down the stretch to lead the girls basketball team to a 43-41 victory over Stratford at home Thursday night.

Tolemeo, who hit two three pointers early in the game but struggled to find her shooting touch in the second half, walked confidently to the free throw line with 24 seconds left after being fouled hard on a fast break layup attempt. She looked at her teammates on the bench and put an OK sign around her right eye (a new basketball symbol for “shot goggles” ala former UConn star Kemba Walker after he hit a big shot). Tolomeo took the ball from the referee and hit nothing but net on the first shot; the second looked just as easy as it went through the hoop.

In the final seconds, Oxford players came up with big defensive plays, and Sam Orner grabbed a hard fought rebound at the buzzer to secure the victory.

Although Tolomeo, the team’s most effective outside shooter, wasn’t on her A-game in the second half, she had little doubt she would sink her free throws.

“I thought of it like it was practice, and I usually make ‘em then,” said Tolomeo, who was 5-for-9 from the charity stripe and led all scorers with 19 points.

Oxford improves to 2-0 on the season; the Wolverines defeated Seymour on Monday night, 47-35. Tolomeo scored 17 in that game to lead all scorers. Taylor Drayton, a sophomore post player, scored 12 on Monday and 11 on Thursday against Stratford.

Rhiannon Bacik had 12 points against Seymour and five against Stratford.

Tiffany Nieves, Sam Orner and Jackie Ortiz played tough defense down the stretch to help secure the victory.

Oxford is in action at home again on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against New Milford.