Eagle girls’ basketball team finishes week strong

  Like their male counterparts, the girls’ basketball team at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (MVRCS) dropped a pair of contests before ending the week on a positive note by dispatching Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School (NDCR) – their record now standing at 3-4. Playing their third game in four days, the Eagles showed little sign of fatigue, turning away NDCR (50-16). An early onslaught of perimeter shots and strong drives to the basket led the Eagles to a 15-0 advantage.

  Sophomore Breana Nansamba came out firing in the first quarter much as in the previous night. She hit two three-pointers from the right wing and helped open the interior for in-and-out ball movement. Senior captain Mairead St. Clair complemented Nansamba by playing strong close to the basket and dropping in seven points in the first quarter. The Eagles led 21-3 after the first frame.

  The second half saw MVRCS play 1-3-1 defense and working on some half court trapping. The defense stifled NDCR; the Eagles had a 12-7 advantage closing the quarter and eventually cruised to victory.

  At Essex Tech, the Eagles came out of the proverbial gates slowly as they were cold from the field and missed all free throws in first quarter. It rolled into the second quarter in similar fashion – even with many defensive stops, steals and timely rebounds, the Eagles couldn’t convert a basket.

  The second half saw a more competitive spark, and the Eagles competed hard to get back in the game. Sophomore Ava Green was all over the glass, getting eight rebounds and chipping in two points. Senior Gianna Gray and Tu were the defensive presence up front, getting stops in the second half. Gray led MVRCS with five points, five rebounds and three steals. The Eagles outscored Essex Tech in the second half 14-13 but fell in the contest.

  The next day, MVRCS left the confines of Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) play to tangle with Maimonides School of Brookline. The Eagles came out firing on all cylinders in the first four minutes, executing offensive possessions and getting one-and-done stops to the advantage of 14-2. The M-Cats hung in tough and made it a 15-8 score after one quarter. Nansamba (14 TOT points) had six and Mairead St. Clair (20 TOT points) six to lead the Eagles’ opening.

  The Eagles came out in the second quarter with the same emphasis to get the ball inside and finish close range shots to their post players. They kept the lead for majority of the quarter, but foul trouble kept some starters on the bench, and the M-Cats took advantage, tying the game 27-27 at the half.

  The Eagles – being shorthanded due to some players in COVID-19 protocol – got winded by the third quarter. The M-Cats were aggressive from outside and on the boards and took a 39-31 lead heading to the final frame.

  Ava Green (12 rebounds – two points) held the Eagles upright, collecting defensive and offensive rebounds all over the paint. MVRCS out-rebounded the M-Cats but could not finish on the offensive end. The M-Cats took advantage, scoring 13 and coming up with a 52-42 win.