The Mascenic girls’ basketball team’s big win over Wilton-Lyndeborough Monday night lifted the Vikings one step closer to the playoffs and left the Warriors with a few games left to build a foundation for the future.
“We’re playing better basketball right now,” Mascenic head coach Tony Zina said after the 66-30 Viking win. “Our girls are starting to bond together. They’re starting to play more as a team. Defensively, we’re playing pretty good defense. So that’s my goal is to keep them working hard.”
The Vikings keyed on WLC’s Maddy LaBrecque, hoping to keep her uncomfortable and off the three-point line, and it worked; she scored a team-high 10 but didn’t hit a three. Meanwhile, Mascenic’s top two — Breanna McCabe (24 points) and Sienna Gregory (11 points) had their way, and with WLC scoring just nine points in the second half, the Vikings cruised. The Warriors had a short bench on Monday with only eight players available, and aside from LaBrecque, got scoring from senior Cailin Swett (eight points) along with Leah Crawley (six) and McKenna Crouse (five).
“We had to have girls step up a little bit more in a big role,” said WLC coach Tom Crowley of his shortened roster, “and though it didn’t look pretty, I think the experience is good for them because the ones that were needing to do that were the younger players.”
The Warriors are now 3-12 on the season, all but out of contention for the 16th and final playoff spot in Division IV. Regardless, the goal for the Warriors has to be finish strong and put in the offseason work that is required to be a top contender in any division.
“If they use this as a lesson year,” Crowley said, “they stay hungry, that is what we’re looking for. We have kids coming up that are going to be freshmen next year that are hungry. If the ones that are coming back catch the bug, get a little hungrier and work over the summer, I like our chances for next year.”
The Warriors host Mount Royal on Friday. Mascenic, at 7-6, is currently 13th in the division and primed for a playoff spot. Their team defense is strong, though they’ve had a little trouble with some of the tougher teams, like Newmarket (11-2) and Holy Family (10-2), and it’ll likely be a team of that caliber that the Vikings draw in the first round. Offensively, Mascenic has been able to get by on the strength of McCabe and Gregory, who both average 12.7 ppg, good for 12th in the division. But come playoff time, teams will key on those two and it will be up to the rest of the Vikings to step up. On Monday night, eight different Vikings scored, and if they’re going to be competitive in the postseason, coach Zina will need players like Jordin Schuler, Hannah Cargill and Brooke Bishop to keep contributing.
“It’s time for you guys to try to step up and do what I need you to do for the playoffs,” Zina told his team. “I need you guys to score baskets for me. … I think they’re falling into that. They’re gonna buy into it.”
Mascenic hosts Sunapee Friday night.