Unstoppable Islanders Claim 17th Win, No Losses

It's happened so many times in basketball at any level.  The underdog somehow finds a way to knock off the big dog. In the NBA. In the NCAA. For the undefeated Middletown varsity girls basketball team, they are quickly finding out that every team they face from now on will throw it all at them to end their undefeated season.

The thing is, Middletown has yet to let that happen.

Their game on the road against the Davies Career and Technical High School was no different. The Middletown Islanders came into the game at 16-0 overall on the season. The Davies Patriots, at a respectable 7-5, and in the middle of the pack in Division III play, hosted the undefeated Middletown squad. The game started off with the Islanders taking charge quickly.  Nina Traglia took over defensively, blocking and stealing for Middletown. Lauren Paiva and Chelsea Dowler helped their team take a 12-4 lead with 8:50 to go in the half.

Davies showed little fear and a good deal of aggression, but every time Davies made a great play on the offensive end, Middletown would respond with a better play.  With 3 minutes to go in the half, #55 for the Islanders, Michaela Conley, hit a jumper to put her team up 19-9 over the home team.

The Islanders have not only risen above the teams they've faced, they've often dismantled their opponents early in the game. At halftime it looked to be more of the same. The Islanders led the Patriots 19-9 at the intermission.

The second half started off with Middletown performing surgical plays on the often outmatched Davies team. However, with 8:06 to play in the game, Davies dug in and outplayed the Islanders.  The Middletown team found themselves in not only unknown, but relatively unheard of territory. The game was tied after a 9-0 run by Davies.  

The score was now tied at 30 with just under five minutes to play in the game.

Many teams in basketball crumble under the pressure. It's completely understandable.  You're on the road, you're tied up against a team that, in Davies, screamed with joy after every single basket. It's easy to fall into the "trap" of that type of game. All good things must come to an end, right?

Wrong.

Middletown showed the mark of a true champion by not playing into Davies hands, rather playing their game.  

Controlled.  Disciplined.  Poised.

The Davies team had reason to be happy, but should have played defense to match their offensive chatter after every basket as if they were up by 20.  They were not. The score was tied. Middletown, behind the exceptional leadership of Lauren Paiva and Kirsten Perry, didn't start to fall apart as a team. Instead they did what they have done throughout the year.

Play hard.  Talk to each other.  Stay focused.

The game stayed extremely tight until Kirsten Perry sank a runner to put her team on top by 5 with 2:50 remaining in the game.  Her shot caused an explosion of cheers from her teammates on the bench, her teammates on the floor, and the visiting Middletown faithful.  

Davies missed easy passes, made simple mistakes. They seemed overwhelmed. They never gave up, but could not contain the Islanders, who went on an 8-0 run over a three-minute stretch to put their team up for good.  The score was now 39-30 with 1:41 to play.

To Davies' credit, they never conceited. They played well down the stretch. They just didn't play well enough to beat Middletown.

The final score was 40-34 in favor of the visiting Islanders.

The leading scorer for the home team was #21, Jessica Moaraliz, who had 11.

The Islanders spread the offensive scoring extremely well, and were led on the night by a few familiar names.  Lauren Paiva led her team with 8 points.  Chelsea Dowler and Kirsten Perry each finished with 7.

The Middletown Varsity Girls Basketball Team now stands at 17-0 overall on the season.

They will attempt to keep their unbeaten season hopes alive on Wednesday, when they visit Rocky Hill.  Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Middletown has a target on their backs now.  Can they rise above and finish undefeated? Check back after the game on Wednesday to find out.