WMS girls’ basketball teams showcase defense against Lewiston

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Middle School’s seventh and eighth grade girls’ basketball teams played several strong games against Lewiston on Thursday, Dec. 7 at home. Windham eighth graders staged a comeback by halftime to take the lead. Unfortunately, Lewiston edged ahead in the second half to win, 45-33. Windham seventh graders came out aggressive and never let up and defeated Lewiston, 49-29.

Windham seventh grader Carly Franzoni easily maneuvers
around her Lewiston opponent during a girls' basketball
game at home on Thursday, Dec. 7.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Eighth Grade

“Our shots weren’t falling,” said Windham eighth grade girls’ basketball coach Katie Franzoni. “We had some really, really good looks and [shots] just weren’t going down for us, unfortunately. I credit the girls for not giving up. It just wasn’t our night. Our team defense was something we’ve really been focusing on and getting on help side and not just focusing on our own player has been huge for us and trying to rebound a little bit better. We need to focus and make those easy ... shots that were there. We need to be in more pressure situations to make those shots.”

Lewiston took an early lead, but shots weren’t falling early for either team, and by the end of the first quarter, neither team had scored 10 points. Lewiston had several turnovers which added to their lead, but Windham fought hard.

Windham rebounded and slowly began to climb up the scoreboard. They hustled and were soon not far behind the Blue Devils. Windham had strong defense and pressured more. Shortly before the end of the first half, the game was tied at 16. A moment before the buzzer went off, Windham pulled ahead 17-16.

The game was tied at 19 early in the second half and remained close. Windham’s efforts were there. They fought hard for the ball, but Lewiston had a big lead as the game progressed. With time running out, the deficit was too much for Windham to make up.

“They were a really good team,” said Eliana Kostopoulos. “Our shots weren’t falling, and everyone was getting frustrated. We had good looks ... we had a couple good ... passes and everyone was working well on offense. They had a solid team; they knew what they were doing.”

Both Kostopoulos and teammate Jennifer Schwarz agreed that getting down on themselves may have contributed to the loss.

“We were doing good on communication,” said Schwarz. “Be sure to keep our heads high as a way to improve.

Seventh grade

The lead was Windham’s early on. They grabbed rebounds and kept the baskets coming. They moved the ball well, had nice defense and teamwork. Their offense could not be stopped.

“We talked and did really well on passing,” said Carly Franzoni. “We did a good job ... shooting and we hustled, and we are really close as a team, and that really helped with our defense.

Windham was hungry for the win and would not be stopped. They were quick to grab second chance opportunities.

Lewiston struggled with Windham defense. At the half the Lady Eagles led 31-16.

In the second half, Lewiston was slowly catching up, but Eagle offense remained strong. Windham’s Madisen Vallerie and Franzoni both hit three-pointers.

“Team communication and our mental game [need improvement],” said Peyton McLean.

By the end of the fourth quarter, Windham was way out in front and would not be caught.

“Big thing I say with basketball is defense wins games,” said Windham seventh grade girls’ basketball coach Darcey Gardiner. “I love how well we pass the ball offensively; I think we share really well. My point guards are able to see the floor, which really helps out. Boxing out [needs improvement]; we ... forget put your body on someone first then go get the ball.

While Gardiner is impressed with Windham’s help side defense, she thinks it will definitely be better when January rolls around. <

WMS seventh-grade girls’ basketball cruises past King

By Matt Pascarella

The seventh-grade Windham Middle School girls’ basketball team could not be stopped in their game against King Middle School. Once Windham’s Mackenzie Delewski scored the team’s first couple points, there was no stopping the Lady Eagles who put up 14 points in just the first quarter.

From then until the final buzzer Windham would not be surpassed. Their teamwork gave them a significant lead which they held onto for four quarters.

Windham's Lily Gallagher moves toward the basket as the ball
leaves her hand during a game against King on Jan. 6 at 
Windham Middle School. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Despite Windham’s strong lead for the entire game, their intensity never dipped. As the clock ticked away its final seconds, Windham won by an impressive 45-12 score on Thursday, Jan. 6 at Windham Middle School.

“I think they are a very unselfish team; they look for the open player,” said Windham seventh grade girls’ basketball coach Katie Franzoni. “We were able to work on some of the things that in tighter games were not able to work on, like an out-of-bounds play we had practiced before. We were able to do a little more of our offense which sometimes we’re not able to run.”

This helped Windham gain confidence in areas they may not have been confident in before.

The Lady Eagles won the tip off and immediately began moving the ball between teammates. Windham stayed with the ball and communicated throughout the game. Windham snagged rebounds and turnovers.

The Lady Eagles pulled away from King quickly and kept a big distance between the teams. They dominated after one half and led 30-4.

Windham hustled from the start of the second half and prevented many scoring opportunities for King. Windham continued to add points to the scoreboard and gave 100 percent for the rest of the game.

Windham’s Grayson Cornish, who scored her first basket of the season during this game, said it was teamwork that gave the team such a big win; everyone worked together for the entire game.

“We ran our plays really well today,” said Delewski. “We were passing and did really good. We made the shots; they were falling. We were talking a lot more on defense.”

Delewski said they had a lot of energy. They really got into the flow of things; they were making good cuts which helped.

Franzoni said defense did not give up easy baskets. Windham moved their feet more and had minimal fouls during the game.

“Our passing [went really well],” said Coach Franzoni. “Looking for the open player and not forcing shots; we did a good job at trying to get lots of people involved in scoring.” <