Recap for the game: Drury vs Lenox on Feb 01
Devils Double Down on Lenox in Overtime
Staff reports
08:55AM / Friday, February 03, 2012
LENOX, Mass — Earning the 10th win of the season is always a reason to celebrate for a high school basketball team. With two less games on the schedule this year, however, the Drury girls actually clinched a trip to the postseason with their ninth win in a victory over rival Hoosac Valley last week.
Even though their trip to Western Mass. tournament was already secure, the Blue Devils have to feel good about picking up their 10th win of the season, a 46-41 overtime victory over Lenox on the road. It was the second time this year Drury defeated the Millionaires in extra time.
John Franzoni's club earned a great win over a quality opponent by rallying from a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game on a clutch jump shot from junior forward Shannon Garvey (10 points, six rebounds) with less than a minute left in the game. The Blue Devils (10-2) then secured the win by outscoring the Millionaires 11-6 in overtime.
"It was a great win tonight for our team," Franzoni said. "It was a very physical game, and I was very proud of our effort to erase a seven-point deficit in the fourth to force OT and earn the win. [Sophomore] Morgan Lamarre drove to the hoop off the tip in OT to give us a 37-35 lead, and we never trailed again. Lenox fought back to cut the lead to three with less than 30 seconds left, but our defense dug in to get a stop."
Both Lamarre and senior guard Mariah Ferrara made key early steals during overtime to give Drury a 42-35 lead in extra time. With her team up by three with 18 seconds left, Ferrara grabbed a key rebound and then knocked down two foul shots to put the game out of reach for Lenox (10-4). Ferrara scored all seven of her points from the charity stripe, while junior point guard Danielle Racette was also key from the free-throw line, going 10 for 12 on her way to a game-high 17 points. Racette also had six rebounds, five steals and five assists in the game.
"Danielle did a great job of breaking the Lenox press, and Shannon played very well at both ends of the court," Franzoni said. "The game was played with tournament intensity, and our team showed excellent toughness to earn a hard-fought win over a very good team. To come from behind in the fourth quarter to win on the road against a quality opponent is a good indication of how well our team is playing right now. Our team defense was excellent again tonight, and we received clutch free throws from Mariah and Danielle to complete a total team win."
Hayden Zinchuk scored 14 points to lead the Millionaires, who led 18-17 at halftime. The hosts led 27-21 after three quarters, but the Devils outscored Lenox 14-8 in the fourth to put the game in overtime.
Drury next plays at Monument Mountain at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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