The girl’s basketball team has hit the new year with a 4-2 streak. The team has been working hard to push their way to victory. The team had a tough loss with players including most of the seniors and all of the juniors that we previously had from last year’s roster. But this team has worked through it. The team has some great upcoming players including Anna Doyle, Madison McCarthy, Sammie Kaley, Emma Jacinto, Melaina Hacleza, Audrey Wildrick, and Gracey Farley. A special shoutout to our sophomore, Madison McCarthy, for scoring 20 points to lead the Wahconah girl’s basketball team to a 62-36 win over Mount Greylock in its home opener! Madison received a spot for athlete of the week as a result. Half of Wahconah’s games have been decided by five points or fewer this winter. 

Last Friday’s tough contest reached its climax as Wahconah made a remarkable five-point spurt to counter the Tigers’ 9-0 run, which had given them a 40-32 lead with 3 minutes and 6 seconds remaining on the clock. In a crucial moment, Dani Barry, who scored seven points, halted the Tigers’ run by capitalizing on an assist from Olivia Mason during Wahconah’s press break, narrowing the score to 40-34. Following a series of scoreless possessions exchanged by both teams, Madison McCarthy, who contributed nine points, successfully sank a 3-pointer, intensifying the game as it became a one-possession match with 1 minute and 4 seconds left on the clock. With 30 seconds remaining, Wahconah regained possession after a turnover. However, despite effectively handling South Hadley’s press throughout the game, Wahconah committed a turnover into the press with only 24 seconds left. But South Hadley maintained their momentum in the third quarter and briefly took the lead at 28-26, halfway through the quarter. However, Wahconah responded with a 6-3 run, all from free throws, which extended from the third to the fourth quarters. Following a successful free throw by McCarthy, Wahconah briefly took the lead in the game with a score of 32-31. However, South Hadley quickly responded by scoring the next nine points, with Dean contributing a 3-pointer and a baseline jumper during that period. Even though it made their streak (4-2), they didn’t let their guard down. They played very hard and gave South Hadley a good challenge to their season record. No matter what the score was they worked together and gave them a good fight. They will come back to play at South Hadley to redeem themselves on February 5th which will again be electric. 

The seniors, Olivia Roberts, Olivia Mason, Dani Berry, and Olivia Gamberoni have given a legacy for the next class of teammates. As this is their last year, they have shown their all with the support, love, care, and inspiration for many years. We wish them good luck as they graduate and leave for a new opportunity. We wish the best for our basketball team in the upcoming years. The Warriors have had a great season and will continue to get better as the season goes on.