Naps too much for Rams in 62-39 win

Gigi scores 14

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Holy Name Naps led from start to finish and once again dominated the Shepherd Hill Rams 62-39 in a battle between the two top-gten-ranked Central Mass girls teams on Tuesday (February 12) at Holy Name.

The Rams stayed close early as seniors JoJo L’Heureux and Taylor Daniels each scored a pair of hoops, but forward Melissa Saad (Oxford, MA) had a huge 10-point quarter and Gigi Guenther (Webster, MA) scored on a lay up at the buzzer, helping the Naps hold a 18-12 lead at the end of the quarter.

Guenther sparked the Naps with 7 second-quarter points, and before you could blink the Rams were looking at a 34-19 deficit.

After going almost 8 minutes without a basket, sophomore Ciara McKissick finally scored, but the visitors were down 44-21 and could not get back in the game so the Naps coasted to their fifteenth win of the season and second over the Rams.

Guenther, who finished with 14 points, was happy with the way her team played. “They were keeping up with us in the first quarter, but we had more intensity in the second quarter and built a good lead so we could chill a little at halftime.”

The sophomore credited her team’s defense with getting the job done. “We played five man “D”; everyone gets on the ball so they couldn’t shoot because they have great shooters in Taylor (Daniels), Tina (Gauvin), and Brooke (Packard), so we tried to stop them.”

The Rams were able to score more this time around against the Naps (putting 39 points on the board in comparison to their first meeting when they lost 46-22), but they were not able to make stops on the defensive end.

L’Heureux led the Rams with 11 points, while Daniels added 6, and junior Dominique Woods finished with 5 points.

Guenther wouldn’t mind playing the Rams again. “I like playing them, we like seeing each other because basketball takes up so much of our time, Taylor, Tina and of course Brooke are my friends, they are great.”

On the Naps being ranked number one in Central Mass Guenther said, “It’s good but everyone wants to beat the number one team, so we really have to work because everyone is going to give us their “A” game.”

The Shepherd Hill junior varsity took the preliminary 53-43.

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