Gateway’s Brooke Fairman (44) handles the ball as teammates Kaitlyn Mastello, left, and Chelsi Derrig (24) look on. A New Leadership player is partially obscured. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – The Tri County League now goes through Huntington.
The Gateway Regional High School girls’ basketball team took control of its destiny Thursday night, defeating New Leadership 40-34 to take control of the Tri County League with seven games remaining in the regular season.
Gateway improved to 10-3 overall, 9-1 Tri County. New Leadership fell to 8-2 in league play, one game behind the Gators.
“We had more drive to win this game because we knew what was at stake,” said Gateway forward Brooke Fairman, who matched her career-high total of 18 points to go along with 12 rebounds. “There was a fire under us pushing us along.”
Fairman dominated the first half, scoring 10 of her team’s first half points as Gateway put together an 18-15 advantage by halftime. She helped the Gators take control of the game midway through the third quarter with two consecutive putbacks and two successive free throws to widen the lead to 28-19.
Kaitlyn Mastello hit a quick turnaround jumper with 6:45 remaining to give Gateway its largest lead, 35-25.
New Leadership’s Tamar Gervais (15 points), the league leader in scoring, converted two free throws and made a 2-pointer to cut the lead to six, 35-29. But Fairman made a key defensive rebound with less than five minutes remaining and – following a timeout by Gateway coach Eli Robbins – ripped down an offensive rebound and hit a putback to re-establish the Gators superiority.
Alyssa Moreau, who provided Gateway with key minutes off the bench Thursday, iced the game with a 3-pointer with 1:21 left in regulation.
“Our second-half shots started dropping,” coach Robbins said. “As usual we fed off our defense.”
Mastello and Casey M’Kittrick delivered a solid effort on the court for Gateway. Gators’ Ariel Baillargeon and Jessie Walton combined to shut down Gervais, holding the lightning-quick guard to just three points in the entire first half and just three points in the third quarter.
“We’re slowly working our way toward the goals we set every year,” Robbins said. “We can’t take any team for granted. We’ve got to put in the effort and work every night.”
Westfield 44, Chicopee Comp 31
Alyssa Clark recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting 12 rebounds to lead Westfield.
Pathfinder 42, St. Mary 26
Lindsay Hunter, Jeannette Peretti, and Elizabeth Lincoln scored six points apiece to lead St. Mary, which made a valiant second-half comeback.
Smith Voke 32, Westfield Voc-Tech 31
Brandi VanGelder scored a game-high 10 points for Voc-Tech, which was stopped on its final offensive possession.
Sabis 92, Southwick-Tolland 19
Katelyn Sylvia and Taylor LeClair scored six points apiece for Southwick.
BOYS’ HOOPS
St. Mary 54, Southwick 52
Justin Crosby and Matt Plasse scored 20 points apiece to lead St. Mary. Southwick’s Vinny Fortini (12 points), Dylan Grunwald (12), and Mark O’Neill each reached double-digit scores.
Westfield 54, Chicopee Comp 35
D.J. Florek (11 points, 9 blocks), Tim Donahue (15 points), and Devin Wells (15 points) led Westfield (7-4) to victory.
JV GIRLS’ HOOPS
Southwick 32, Sabis 30
Sabrina Provost helped lead Southwick, which survived despite four players fouling out. A total of 55 fouls were called in the game. The Rams were coming off a 22-5 win over the Gateway Gators. In that game, Ashley Shea led the team.
