WESTFIELD – The Southwick-Tolland Rams girls’ basketball team strolled into the Westfield Vocational gym last night boasting a 6-3 record. The Westfield Vocational Tech Tigers sat at 4-4. The Rams were looking to improve to 2-0 in their league, the Tigers looking to break the .500 mark. Barring a great Southwick performance, the Tigers would certainly achieve this.
Unfortunately, the Rams showed up to play on this particular evening, spanking the home team 42-25. Paced by guard Taylor LaClair and forward Melissa O’Neal, who led a balanced Southwick scoring effort, the Rams got out to a quick 15-0 lead.
The Tigers refused to roll over though, and they began to crawl back. And it was Brandi VanGelder, who repeatedly drove to the basket, constantly attacking and drawing fouls. But a Melissa O’Neal’s lay-up at the buzzer kept the Rams firmly in control going into halftime.
The Tigers continued to claw their way into the contest, but LaClair decided to leave her mark on the game. The point guard scored all eight of her points in the second half, setting up the Rams’ offense and keying Southwick’s ball hawking defense for fast break hoops time and time again.
VanGelder’s effort inspired a mini-run for the Tigers who would go on to score almost quadruple their first half scoring output. But the Rams proved too much as their rebounding limited Westfield Voke’s running game and their half court defense suffocated the Tigers.
Southwick Coach Mike Gill was enthusiastic of his team’s performance.
“With this win, we improve record wise, but that’s been our goal all season,” he said. “This is a great group, but we’re just trying to get better every day.”
Melissa O’Neal also had good things to say about the win.
“I’m just trying to keep a good pace and lead by example,” she said, “since I’m the lone senior.”
LaClair led the Southwick-Tolland charge with eight points, all coming in the second half. VanGelder paced Voc-Tech with seven.
JV GIRLS’ HOOPS
Southwick 55, Westfield Voc-Tech 10
Four players scored six points apiece for Southwick, and every other Rams’ player had at least one basket.
