Undefeated Islanders Capture 18th Victory

There's something special about these Islanders. Is it their leadership from Kirsten Perry and Lauren Paiva? Is it the coaching staff led by Mike Yates? Is it the team unity they put on display at home and on the road?  

It's becoming apparent as the season winds down that it is not one of these alone.  It is all of the above. And then some.

The varsity girls basketball team traveled to Rocky Hill on Wednesday and came home with their 18th overall win this year and remain undefeated.

The first half saw impressive hard passes from the Middletown squad. Rocky Hill was on their heels early as Lauren Paiva rifled a pass to start a scoring drive for her team. Middletown was up early on the Rocky Hill team.  The score was 6-3 after 3 minutes had gone by.

Both teams entered a mini scoring drought over the next six minutes, until #55 for the Islanders, Michaela Conley, made a basket to put her team up 12-7 with 6:37 remaining in first half.

Rocky Hill certainly kept it interesting.  They played well.  They played hard.  They began to gain confidence with every basket made. With 3:58 to play in the first, the Rocky Hill team had tightened the score, at 14-11.

Middletown rattled off back-to-back baskets to widen the lead to 7.  It was now 18-11 with 2 minutes to go in the half.

Rocky Hill did not go quietly into halftime.  A couple of fancy passes, including one behind the back underneath the basket by #4 for Rocky Hill, sparked her team into action. With 50 seconds to play before intermission, Rocky Hill was only down 2.  The score was now 18-16.

Middletown stayed focused and scored. While Rocky Hill was busy celebrating their scoring run, the Islanders went back to work and rattled off 4 straight points to give them a 22-16 lead at the half.

The second half did not start off well for the Islanders. Missed passes, missed shots, and an uncharacteristic lack of communication gave Rocky Hill a narrow window of opportunity to take control of the game. However, Coach Mike Yates called a timeout and refocused the team.

Middletown then went on an 11-0 run as Rocky Hill began to show their frustration.

The score was 31-20 with 6:22 to play in the game.

Over the next 4 minutes Rocky Hill played with renewed fire and some hard fouls against #44, Taylor O'Malley and #22, Chelsea Dowler. 

Dowler, like her teammates, doesn't get intimidated easily. She responded by scoring back-to-back runners that put her team up to 41-27 with 2:14 to play.

The final score was 43-27.

The Islanders were led by Senior co-captain Kirsten Perry, who led her team with 9 points.  #32, Nina Traglia and #22, Chelsea Dowler, each finished with 8.

The Islanders are now 18-0 overall on the season.

Each game might prove to be a bigger challenge for the Islanders as other teams come gunning for them. They will attempt to keep the unbeaten season going on Friday night when they host Shea. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Four games remain this season for Middletown.  The countdown has already begun. The bell has been rung. The gauntlet has been thrown. Can they continue the unbeaten season? Check back here Friday after the game to find out.