Pomperaug Girls' Basketball Rolls Over Weston On Senior Night

The Pomperaug girls’ basketball team celebrated senior night on Friday in grand fashion as they throttled Weston by a convincing 57-28 margin. The festivities started with the introduction of seniors Mary Haase, Morgan Keith, Olivia Metcalf and Kate Nadler, all playing in their final home game of the regular season.

Juniors Taylor Fleming and Allison Wallace gave a sterling rendition of the National Anthem and it was time to play ball. The Trojans came in at 12-4 but the 14-3 Panthers real test ended up being nothing more than a pop quiz.

Weston had been cruising with along an 11-1 mark until two ACL injuries and a broken ankle derailed their season. But it was the Pomperaug defensive effort that allowed just one first period basket and two second period buckets that vaulted them into a head shaking 35-9 halftime lead.

“Obviously Weston is not the same team that started the season,” said Pomperaug head coach Joe Fortier. “Anytime you lose your starting point guard to an injury that takes a toll on your team. But they also had a couple of other set backs as it seems to be happening throughout the league.”

“But anytime you have senior night you really don’t know what to expect. The emotions are running high and they are kids. You don’t know how they are going to react. But if you can script it out, that was the most perfect first half of basketball that a coach can ask for."

Haase (8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) was a force from the opening tip as she controlled the action in the paint with six points, eight rebounds and a block in the first period as the Panthers bolted out to a 20-4 advantage.

Metcalf (7 points), Keith (4 rebounds) and Gabby Holness (9 points, 8 assists) all scored four points each in the period as the Panthers just ran up and down the court smothering the Blue and Gold.

The Trojans first basket came with 1:43 left in the period when Dakota Sloop took one down the lane but it was already getting away from Weston at that point at 14-4.

The defensive effort continued in the second period as coach Fortier unleashed the second wave that continued to overwhelm the Trojans. Weston managed a basket at the 5:27 mark and their next bucket came three minutes later at 2:14 and it was pretty much over at that point with Pomperaug safely out in front by a 35-9 margin at the half.

“When you allow just three baskets in a half you are getting it done defensively,” said Fortier. “I came in here as a new coach this year and these seniors saw to it that this team came together. They have shown tremendous leadership. The four of them have certainly made my job that much easier."

When coach Fortier went to the next wave of Panthers they hardly missed a beat as Haili Welton drove the lane for eight points, Lauren Baranowski tallied nine points with four rebounds and Jessica Miller added six points.

Weston began to bang the nails out but it was too little too late as they outscored Pomperaug 15-11 in the third period. Nadler (6 points, 4 steals) ended a 9-0 Trojan run throwing down back-to-back hoops to maintain a 41-20 advantage with 2:36 left in the third period.

Allison Wallace (5 rebounds, 3 assists) helped the Panthers to throw a roadblock in the Weston comeback attempt as the Panthers outscored the Blue and Gold 11-4 in the final period.

“We’ve got a big game coming up on Monday for the division against Newtown (14-3) and I wanted to be playing our best basketball at this point in the season,” said Fortier. “Hopefully we can take some of this momentum into the game on Monday and gear up for the post season.”