Sports

Medfield Girls' Basketball Remains Team to Beat in TVL

Medfield beats Ashland, 74-35 to stay unbeaten and atop the Tri-Valley League standings.

ASHLAND – In a clash of the Tri-Valley League's top two teams – Ashland entered Friday's contest 8-1 in the TVL – Medfield showed why its the number one team in the league and won why this year's squad may be better than any of the teams that have helped win three consecutive TVL titles after a 74-35 victory over Ashland.

"[Friday] was without a doubt one of the best performances by a team that I
have coached," said Medfield head coach Mark Nickerson.

Ashland entered the game as the most potent offense in the TVL and roster two of the top five scorers in the league, including Blake Underhill, who is averaging 18.6 per game before Friday. The Clockers jumped ahead of Medfield early, racing out to a 7-0 lead before the Warriors settled down and took control.

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"We played very sloppy in the first two to three minutes of the game," Nickerson said. "Once we settled down, we were dominant."

Medfield's Lauren Petit set the tone for the game, leading the Warriors at the point with 15 points in the first quarter on five three-pointers, four of them coming on successive possessions, according to Nickerson, which opened up a 17-0 Medfield run. Petit finished the game with 26 points.

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Kristin Fechtelkotter also played a key role in Medfield's victory, netting 11
points to go with seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Medfield captain Jen Narlee recorded a double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

"[Narlee] was a tremendous defensive presence in the paint," Nickerson said. "It was one of those games where everything seemed to click."

Nickerson said the execution on offense and overall team play could not be ignored and were key factors the outcome of Friday's game against a strong TVL opponent.

"Our offense was tough to stop, our pressure defense created some easy
offensive opportunities and our half-court defense was immense," Nickerson said. "We held Underhill to nine points and Natalie Leone to eight, she is their other top five scorer." 

Nickerson said he was "proud" of the way the Warriors played Friday, on the road and against a tough team like Ashland.

"They knew that Ashland presented a tremendous challenge for us and they rose to the occasion," Nickerson said. "This game puts us at 1 -0 overall and 8-0 in the league ... two games in front of the second place teams" Holliston,
Hopkinton and Ashland." 

Medfield led after the first quarter, 20-9, 28-16 at halftime and 54-28 after the third.The Warriors travel to Millis Tuesday for a TVL game against the Mohawks at 6:30 p.m.


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