Lady Trojans cagers dominate Amistad

eschickler@bcnnew.com

The Weston girls basketball team feasted on two opponents at home this week. Weston defeated Barlow, 69-33 on Tuesday, and Amistad Academy, 79-20 on Wednesday to raise its record to 6-3. Barlow dropped to 1-8 and Amistad, a first-year program, is now 0-4. The Lady Trojans hope these two games prepare them for upcoming tests tonight at Newtown and at home next Tuesday against Bunnell.

"It was a very businesslike atmosphere and I liked the approach our kids took," said Weston Coach Pat Cole after completing the sweep. "We took a game that we needed and we now have to focus on Newtown."

The Lady Wolves took their only lead of the night when junior Nakesha Cadore hit a layup seven seconds into the game. Lady Trojan sophomore Ellie Martin answered with a 3-pointer from junior Christina Welsh. Martin (10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, five steals) was a force on the glass and scored most of her points inside.

"All the girls boxed out and it was a complete team effort," said Martin. "Everyone fought equally hard and the ball just came to where I was."

Amistad tied it 7-7 on freshman Aijah Fox' trey with 5:54 remaining in the first quarter but Weston took the lead for good 14 seconds later when senior captain Brittany Swanson swished a trifecta from senior captain Jessica Welsh. Swanson (22 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three steals, two forced turnovers) hit four 3-pointers and was a force on the glass.

"I was being aggressive and I played hard," said Swanson. "I worked on what I had to work on for Newtown."

Christina Welsh (five points, three rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two forced turnovers) set up three of Swanson's treys and played like Lindsay Whalen in the way she distributed the ball.

"My teammates got open and I was able to pass it to them," said Christina Welsh.

Swanson's trey from the elder Welsh kicked off a 35-0 Lady Trojan surge, which gave them a 42-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Weston's press led to this run with Jessica Welsh (eight points, two rebounds, five assists, three steals) wreaking havoc up top in forcing 10 turnovers.

"Being on my toes and coming out ready to play was key," said Welsh. "We're starting to come together on the 2-3 defense and the rotations looked smooth."

Overall, the Lady Trojans forced 25 turnovers, 20 in the first half (Cole didn't have them press in the second half). Martin was also a defensive nightmare for the Lady Wolves.

"Someone in front of me forced a lot of bad passes and the girls down low tried to steal the ball," said Martin. "It was the whole team working together dynamically."

Junior Dakota Sloop (12 points, three rebounds, three assists) scored mostly on putbacks.

Senior captain Natalie Odierna (two points, two rebounds, one steal, one forced turnover) was tough on defense. Freshman Morgan Moubayed (12 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, one forced turnover) was an inside force off the bench.

Sophomores Lianna Hursh (two points, one rebound, one assist, one forced turnover) and Sarah Schwartz (one assist) also contributed. Freshmen Anna Mahoney (two points, three rebounds), Staci Goldstein (two points, one rebound, one steal), Emily Savitsky (two points, one assist) and Allegra Schiff (one rebound), contributed.

Against Barlow, Swanson (17 points, 11 rebounds), junior Hannah Hutchins (15 points, five assists, three steals), Jessica Welsh (12 points, four assists, four steals), Christina Welsh (10 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, five steals) Martin (nine rebounds) and Sloop (11 rebounds) contributed.

"We have the tough part of our schedule coming up with the challenge we face against Newtown and Bunnell," said Cole. "This week's games give us confidence for the upcoming games."

Jessica Welsh said, "We're really concentrating on Friday and we want a big road victory. We have to use how we came out the past two games and apply it to Friday."