Revere girls basketball finds its rhythm by attacking the paint and playing together

By Dom Nicastro

On the road last week against Malden, the Revere High School girls basketball team didn’t panic when the shots weren’t falling early. Instead, the Lady Patriots trusted their habits, leaned into their identity and let the game come to them. After trailing 12-7 at the end of the first quarter, Revere settled in, tied the game by halftime and then took control with a composed, physical second half to earn a 50-36 win over the Golden Tornados. It was a performance that reflected not just a strong adjustment, but a growing understanding of how this team needs to play to be successful.

“We were more composed and spaced the floor a lot better,” assistant coach Liz Lake said. “We capitalized on our ability to drive to the basket rather than rely on only our perimeter shots. Overall, we moved the ball with more purpose.”

  The difference after halftime was clear. Revere stopped forcing shots from the outside and began attacking the middle of the floor with intent. Ball movement improved, spacing opened up and driving lanes followed. “During the half, we put a lot of emphasis on getting more paint touches as we were not utilizing the middle of the court as much as we could have been in the first half,” Lake said. “We put focus on moving the ball around the perimeter and being more intentional with our actions.”

That intentionality showed up in the details — better screening, cleaner handoffs, and sharper decision-making that allowed Revere to consistently get downhill and finish plays in the paint. “We used more screens and handoffs, which helped us create better angles and opened up driving lanes, allowing us to get downhill and attack the basket more consistently,” Lake said.

The result was a confident third and fourth quarter in which Revere took the lead and never gave it back. While the offense found its rhythm, the Lady Patriots’ defense set the tone after halftime. Revere limited Malden’s opportunities, contested shots without fouling, and finished possessions on the glass.

The approach was collective, not dependent on size or individual matchups. “We are not a very tall team, so defensively we have to maintain an aggressive presence, move as a working unit, have hands up at all times, and have everyone on the floor be ready to box out to secure rebounds,” Lake said.

That discipline showed in the final two quarters, when Revere consistently forced Malden to work deep into possessions and denied second-chance opportunities. “During the third and fourth quarters, our team put more attention toward these actions and hustled hard,” Lake added.

  Revere’s balanced attack was led by Sarah Lechheb and Addison Ulwick, who each finished with 12 points while contributing across the floor. Lechheb added two assists and five rebounds, while Ulwick chipped in three assists and eight rebounds.

Lechheb’s steady presence at point guard anchored the offense. “Sarah, our main point guard, really did a great job running the team,” Lake said. “She kept a level-head and made sure we were organized offensively.”

Her impact went beyond scoring. “Her speed impacts the game on both ends of the floor, and that showed as she pushed the pace in transition and defensively applied a lot of pressure,” Lake said. “I’ve enjoyed watching her grow as a leader in the point guard position these last few years.”

Ulwick, meanwhile, continues to make her presence felt as a freshman by playing with confidence and physicality. “Addison, who is only a freshman, attacked the basket aggressively, and her effort on the boards was big,” Lake said. “She did a great job limiting second-chance opportunities and helped us move the ball around.”

  The win sets the stage for a demanding stretch, with Revere traveling to Somerville on Tuesday, Feb. 10, before returning home for senior night on Thursday, Feb. 12, against Everett and hosting Salem on Friday, Feb. 13.

With three games in quick succession, the focus shifts to consistency and preparation. “Our focus is going to be on staying consistent and taking care of our bodies with a busy week ahead,” Lake said. “We want to keep building on the habits we’ve been emphasizing — playing together, defending with energy, and valuing the basketball by being intentional on both ends of the floor.”

Senior night adds another layer of motivation, one that the team is embracing. “One of our mottos this season is ‘Do the little things right,’” Lake said. “We want to honor them by doing just that; by playing the right way, bringing great energy, and competing together for them and our home crowd.”