Sports
TMHS Girls Basketball Team Rebounds In Haverhill (VIDEOS)
Redmen bounce back from Monday's loss with a 38-29 road win.
It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
Playing on a hostile court for the second time in two nights, got a and 10 points from and took a 38-29 victory over Haverhill High Tuesday night, in the process keeping the team's Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 title hopes alive.
"I was worried about this game," "We had a tough, long day against Bedford yesterday and I was worried that our legs might have been a little bit gassed. This has been a very tough place for us to play in, for years. It wasn't the prettiest thing, but for us to get out of here with a win, I feel good about that."
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Tewksbury's strong defensive effort was the difference in the game, as the Redmen held Haverhill to 14 first half points (seven in each quarter) and only four points in the third quarter. Chaet scored nine of her 16 points in the third period, including five straight at one point to stretch the Tewksbury lead to 11 points with 4:28 to play in the third.
"I think the difference was when we came out in the second half and Nicole started getting a lot of second chance points," Bradley said. "I think that was the difference in the game."
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A spotty shooting night on TMHS' part allowed Haverhill to hang within striking distance for most of four quarters, as the Hillies closed to within seven at 31-24 with 4:30 to play in the game. But Semenza scored five straight points for the Redmen over the next two minutes, and that was enough for Tewksbury's sixth win against nine losses so far this year.
Sophomore center Chelsee Porcaro scored six points for Tewksbury and was instrumental defensively, holding Haverhill's leading scorer, 5-11 senior center Molly Hoopes, to just four points. Hoopes was being scouted by Merrimack College on Tuesday. Sheri Liggiero added three points, Shannon Semenza had two and Sam Laferriere had one.
The victory improves Tewksbury's record to 6-6 in all MVC games. The Redmen are now 6-2 against MVC Division 2 teams, and are tied with Chelmsford and Dracut for first place in the small school division.
Finishing first, or tied for first, would earn Tewksbury a berth in the MIAA Division 2 state tournament next month. The Redmen return home Friday night for a game against 1-15 Lawrence High, whom they beat by 21 on the road two weeks ago. They close out their small school schedule at Notre Dame Academy on Valentine's Day, and finish their MVC schedule with a home game against Methuen on Senior Night, Feb. 17.
"We're probably going to have to win them all to qualify, but this was a good one to get out of the way," Bradley said. "Now we can rest up for a couple days and get ready for Lawrence on Friday."
