by John Bishop
Win over Gov’s sends Spartans to Rhode Island on Saturday.
Groton, Mass. — “Nothing worthwhile comes easy.”
The quote, usually attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, held true for the Lawrence Academy girls’ varsity basketball team, which held on to win a tightly contested game against The Governor’s Academy on Wednesday inside the Stone Athletic Center on the LA campus.
The 54-44 victory over Gov’s will send the no. 4-seeded Spartans down I-495 toward Middletown, Rhode Island and Purgatory Road as they attempt to slay the no. 1 seed Dragons of St. George's School, who also earned their spot in the NEPSAC semifinals off the strength of a 56-50 win over St. Luke’s School in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
LA defeated Gov's on Wednesday, securing a spot in the NEPSAC Semis.
For their part, the Spartans bounced back from a disappointing loss on their home court last Saturday on senior night to Buckingham Browne & Nichols.
“The difference for us on Wednesday was all about our effort in the 4th quarter,” said Head Coach Emilly Pratt ‘16, who emphasized the team approach of her Spartans. “We stayed locked in defensively, and really did the dirty work—crashing the glass, getting deflections, and playing with intensity.
“That focus and energy in the final quarter is what carried us.”
Coah Pratt
The numbers double down on that story, as well. LA turned over the ball just three times in the second half, compared to 10 turnovers in the 1st stanza. In the 4th, the Spartans shot 50% from the field (7/14), took advantage of free throws (70%, 7-10 in the 4th) and outscored Gov’s 22-7.
But, following the big win and winter term assessments on Thursday, can the girls sustain that momentum to St. George’s School on Saturday?
To answer, Coach Pratt alluded to another oft-used cliche: There is no “I” in Spartans.
The former LA captain explained that team play will lead the way for her varsity this weekend.
“The key for Saturday’s game is to play together and bring that same level of intensity and focus to all four quarters,” said the coach. “If we can do that, we’ll put ourselves in the best position to come out on top.”
Be sure to check www.LAacdemy.edu for updates on the livestream of this weekend’s playoff games.
