Windham girls’ basketball falls against Cheverus

By Matt Pascarella

Coming off back-to-back wins over Edward Little and Portland, Windham girls’ basketball headed to Cheverus in Portland to play the Stags on Friday, Dec. 27. Cheverus took a considerable lead in the first half, and although Windham started slow, their momentum built, and they picked it up in the second half. Despite their best efforts, Cheverus was too far ahead and defeated Windham, 61-41.

Windham sophomore Mackenzie Delewski is about to sink
a three-pointer during a girls' prep basketball game on
the road against Cheverus High School on Dec. 27.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“We did really well in the second half, because their zone defense is very aggressive, so we needed to be more patient and play as a team,” said Windham sophomore Mackenzie Delewski, who knocked down four-three pointers and scored 17 points overall. “Obviously we’ll get shots in the zone, but instead of taking ok shots when we’re open we were getting better shots when it’s one more pass and we’re just coming together as a team and playing for each other. We played really good defense and did really good help, (Cheverus) just hit their shots ... we’ll finetune some things and get the next one. We need to play better help-side defense. We can work on being more patient with the ball, making good passes and not taking two dribbles and picking it up.”

Cheverus jumped out to an early lead. While Windham was slow to start, once they got on the scoreboard, they began to close the gap. Windham moved the ball and picked up some solid turnovers leading to Delewski sinking a three-pointer. Windham rebounded but trailed, 31-15, at the half.

"We as a team were definitely cold at the beginning,” said Windham sophomore Isabella Vassoler. “I think switching to man-to-man helped. Taking care of the ball is a big thing in that game, a lot of turnovers. Adapting to how they play (is what can be learned). We need to focus on what’s working and what’s not working and balancing out more pros rather than cons. Some pros of the game were splitting the floor and making sure we got in that middle to Stella ... as well as swinging the ball faster and try to calm and play with poise and make sure they aren’t speeding us up.”

Windham kept their heads up and went on a run in the second half. They adapted to Cheverus’ star player Kylie Lamson and contested several of her shots. Switching to man-to-man defense made a difference.

Delewski hit another three-pointer to start the second half. Windham offense had improved. Windham went hard after the ball, but Cheverus remained in the lead. Delewski sunk another three, then several moments later, Windham freshman Sitota Hatch sunk a three-pointer.

According to Windham senior Stella Jarvais, who scored 14 points in the game, it’s difficult to adapt to how fast Cheverus plays. Going into the game, Windham wanted to slow the game down and try to run their stuff. She said this game was eye-opening; they need to work on man-to-man defense in practice, seeing the floor and not rushing. As long as they keep working hard, they’ll get better controlling the ball.

“We just needed to make sure we attacked Cheverus’ pressure and do what we could to stay composed,” said Windham girls’ varsity basketball coach Brody Artes. “We did that well at times and at times we didn’t. Cheverus shot the ball really well at the beginning of the game and we didn’t and that was kind of the difference right there. The kids have done a good job all year of maintaining a good attitude, good energy, whether they’re on the floor or on the bench – everybody has contributed that way. We had to switch things up defensively in that second quarter and as soon as we did, we had a bit more energy and were able to maintain our defensive identity a little bit; we were able to get some better shots because of it. It’s a matter of knowing what to expect and being able to shoot a little bit better early in the game.” <

Surge in third period solidifies girl's hockey victory for Cheverus/Windham/Medomak

By Matt Pascarella

The Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey team added another win to an impressive season when a third-period surge resulted in multiple goals. Its game against Saint Dominic Academy ended in a 4-0 shutout victory on Saturday, Dec. 28 at the William B. Troubh Ice Arena in Portland.

Windham freshman Taylor Lucas keeps her eyes on the puck
during a girls' prep ice hockey game against Saint Dominick
Academy on Saturday, Dec. 28 at William B. Troubh Ice
Arena in Portland. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

"We weren’t playing with a lot of a passion and energy (early on),” said Cheverus/Windham/Medomak coach Scott Rousseau. “I thought we played very well in the second period, especially the last seven, eight minutes; our younger forwards started getting more involved in the forward check, we were getting really close to the net, we were missing or (shots were blocked). I thought we showed a lot of resolve to stay patient and stay with it and we got a break with the power play and that relaxed everybody a little bit and took a comfortable lead from there. In the long run, I think it’ll be a good experience for us to feel some tension and anxiety and be comfortable winning 1-0. We need to rely on our younger, inexperienced players to get that experience and start wanting the puck and make those plays. We’re going to have to play low scoring, tight-checking games and be comfortable with that; at the end, I thought we’ll take that learning experience and keep moving forward.”

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak came out a little slow in the first period, but had stellar defense, with multiple shots on goal. Roughly seven minutes into the first period, Cheverus sophomore Caroline Rousseau scored, assisted by Cheverus junior Joey Pompeo.

While the second period was scoreless, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s intensity picked up as they continued to give Saint Dominic Academy’s goalie a workout. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak commanded the ice. Their defense remained strong.

In the third period, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak really turned up the intensity. Seven minutes into the period, Cheverus senior Lucy Johnson scored, assisted by Cheverus senior Zoey Radford. With two minutes remaining Caroline Rousseau scored again, assisted by Windham junior Ashley Cloutier. Windham freshman Taylor Lucas scored, assisted by Caroline Rousseau with less than 15 seconds remaining to end the game on a high note.

“It was a really great pass from Caroline; I was there in the right spot in the right time,” said Lucas. “Despite not playing as well as we wanted to in the first ... we were able to pull together as a team and play really well in the second and third. I feel like we got more energy going on the bench and just brought ourselves together. In the second and the third periods we did really well at passing. I feel like in this game we should’ve come out stronger in the first period, but overall, we did really well.”

Windham junior Ashley Cloutier said the team had good teamwork toward the end, but they need to get that going earlier in the game. It was a spark inside them that got them to work together to score multiple goals in the third period.

“We started pretty slow, but after a while our defense started making quicker passes and quicker decisions and our forwards started getting involved in the cycle game,” said Caroline Rousseau. “We wore the Saint Dom’s players out and I think it just took us a second, but once we got it going, we started making quicker decisions and started moving our feet a bit quicker and got our head in the right space. We definitely started passing more ... all of our goals in the third came off passes with a quick release. Making those quick decisions, making the pass without holding on too long really helped us.” <