Lady Crusaders Fall to Chieftans
Led by senior Nikkiah Snoddy's 24 points and 13 rebounds, visiting Nashoba Regional (7-0) edged feisty Groton-Dunstable, 61-59 to remain undefeated in Midland B girls basketball. Lindsay Werner matched the Chieftain center with 24 points but a quiet offensive fourth quarter did the Crusaders in.
No. 10 GD (4-4, 1-1) trailed 17-15 after one, and when Nashoba opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run you wondered if the locals were going to get blown out!
But Werner and senior guard Melyssa Langell stepped up, each draining threes. Fouls shots by Werner and Ariana Lacombe helped GD regain the lead, 29-28 with less than four minutes remaining in the half. A Werner drive down the lane and acrobatic finish highlighted a solid second quarter that saw GD take a slim 37-32 into the break.
A Jenna Plausse three early in the third had GD ahead by eight. Langell threaded a pretty pass to Werner cutting to the basket and the Crusaders had a 46-36 advantage at 4:16.
Chieftain Nicole Boucher's offensive rebound and put back was answered with Werner's fourth three of the contest with an assist from Coach Hennelly's athletic, artistic body language giving GD an 11 point lead.
No.1 Nashoba is undefeated for a reason. They are well coached, talented and have six foot center Nikkiah Snoddy. The Chieftains fought back, eventually knotting the score at 55-55 on Snoddy's two free throws.
But the last few minutes of the third and into the fourth quarter, the offense for the Crusaders went cold and the Chieftains made their move, eventually taking a three point lead.
Jenna Plausse calmly stepped into a three to tie the game at 58-58 with 1:47 remaining.
With seven seconds left and the game tied, 59-59, senior Erin Cressmen hit a layup to lift Nashoba to the comeback win.
No doubt, Snoddy was a factor but some errant passes and a couple turnovers hurt GD. The Crusaders got solid games from Nicole Eggimann (7 pts.), Jenna Plausse (11 pts.9 rebs.), Melyssa Langell (9 pts.), Ariana Lacombe and the talented Werner.
"For some reason we lost our offensive flow in the fourth quarter. We played very well and I have no doubt when we visit them, we'll give them a game," said Coach Hennelly.
