The referee blows the whistle, allowing Southwick to inbound the ball from the baseline as the Rams’ mascot looks on. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland Regional High School girls’ basketball team did a complete 180 in 16 minutes, and it may have saved their season.
Southwick rallied from a 16-10 halftime deficit to defeat Holyoke Catholic at home for a 31-23 win Tuesday night. The Rams trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter.
“When we went into halftime,” Southwick coach Mike Gill said, “I told the girls, ‘As bad as we played, we’re only down by six points.’”
Southwick committed numerous turnovers in the first half, but Rams’ Morgan Harriman managed to keep the game from getting out of control by converting at the free throw line. Harriman finished with 12 points on 8-of-10 from the foul line.
While Holyoke Catholic scored 13 points in the first quarter, Southwick held the Gaels to just 10 total points in the final three quarters.
“All the running these girls have done has paid off,” coach Gill said. “In the second half, it finally came through.”
Southwick outscored Holyoke Catholic 21-7 in the second half. Taylor LeClair also finished with 12 points for the Rams (8-8), who need to win two of their final four games to qualify for the Western Massachusetts Division II girls’ hoops’ tourney.
“The girls know what’s in front of them,” Gill said. “We have to keep pushing forward.”
