The Everett High girls basketball team defeated Whittier Tech, 41-34, last week, to earn their fifth win of the season. The Lady Crimson Tide took control form the outset, grabbing an 11-3 lead after the first quarter which the Everett girls eventually stretched to 34-18 after three periods. Although Whittier sliced into the lead in the final frame, the Lady Crimson Tide never were threatened.
Michelle Fenelon led all scorers with 18 points, of which 14 came on 22 free throw attempts. “Michelle did a great job taking the ball to the basket and drawing the foul,” said EHS head coach Tammy Turner.
Tori Cyrus also reached double figures with 10 points, while Lisa Aylward chipped in with eight.
“This was a hard fought game because Whittier employed a trap defense that made us work hard to beat their pressure,” said Turner. “The win truly was a total team effort.”
The Lady Crimson Tide took on Saugus of the Northeastern Conference the following night and came out on the short end of a 58-53 decision. Everett held a four point lead at the half, but a quick run by Saugus at the start of the third period boosted Saugus into a five point advantage and changed the momentum of the game.
Although the Lady Crimson Tide fought back, they never were able to regain the lead. Everett made a valiant bid in the final minute, with Stella Riccioli and Taylor Sweeney sinking three pointers that brought Everett as close as two points, but the Saugus girls hit their free throws down the stretch to fend off the Lady Crimson Tide.
“We had played the night before and we seemed to be a little spent,” said Turner. “We kept coming at them, but Saugus made their free throws at the end to hold us off.”
Sweeney turned in her best game of the season to lead Everett in the scoring column with 14 points. Aylward reached double figures with 11 points, despite missing almost half of the game with foul trouble. Fenelon and Cyrus chipped in with eight points apiece, while Riccioli contributed seven points, Amanda DeSouza three, and Jackie Hanlon two.
Everett’s contest with GBL rival Medford two nights later took a similar route. The Lady Crimson Tide led by five heading into the second quarter, but a three pointer by Medford at the buzzer just before the intermission propelled the Lady Mustangs into a five point advantage.
The teams traded punches and counterpunches in the second half as the contest took on a see saw character with the lead being traded several times in the final two periods. However, Everett was unable to convert its chances at the end and Medford came away with the 56-50 win.
Fenelon led the way for Everett with 15 points and Cyrus ht for 13. Aylward scored eight points, Sweeney and DeSouza had five, and Rachel Pierce two.
The Lady Crimson Tide were set to travel Cambridge yesterday (Tuesday), to Lynn Classical tonight, and to Malden on Friday. They will return home next Tuesday to host Somerville.