There was a big game feel to the packed house in Cambridge Wednesday night with all in attendance anticipating a prime mid-season matchup between Mechanicville and Cambridge, arguably the top two girls teams in the Wasaren.
While the game proved to be a competitive run, the Indians never trailed and played with a comfortable cushion for most of the night, before walking off with the 70-44 decision over the Red Raiders.
Cambridge came out firing on all cylinders, with Sophie Phillips scoring off the opening tip, and McKayla McLenithan adding a pair of inside scores, forcing Mechanicville to take a quick timeout just 90 seconds in.
A McLenithan putback, followed by a Lily Phillips steal and score pushed the Indians lead to 10-0 and the Raiders used another timeout at the 5:19 mark to settle down and reset.
Mechanicville did just that responding with an 11-4 run.
An AJ Joseph inside bucket broke the ice, followed by a pair of triples from Jada Brown and Chloe Goverski, and when Charli Goverski scored on a scoop at the rim the Cambridge lead was trimmed to 14-11 with 3:00 remaining in the quarter.
But as was the case throughout the night, Cambridge quickly took back the momentum. A Stasia Epler hit from deep, and a bucket and one by Lily, starting a 10-2 Indians spurt to close the period that ended with the hosts holding a 24-13 advantage.
Cambridge scored on the first possession of the second, on a nice find from Fiona Mooney to a cutting Lily Phillips, but the Indians offense suddenly went dry, giving the Raiders a window of opportunity to close the gap.
Mechanicville scored six straight on an inside deuce from Joseph, a floater from Chloe and dribble -drive by Charli Goverski to creep to within 10 at 29-19.
But Cambridge used a pair of Epler threes, the second coming at the 2:55 mark, to stem the tide, and the Indians took a 36-24 advantage into the break.
The two squads played evenly throughout the third, as Cambridge continued to hold a comfortable working margin. The closest the Raiders would get, came when Brown scored on a sweet Euro-step move at the 5:27 mark, trimming the deficit to 38-30.
Both teams had five players score in the frame showing the depth of the two rosters. The Indians bottomed three triples in the period with Ruth Nolan, Epler and Lily all connecting from deep, while the Raiders took the ball to the rim with Brown, Chloe and Charli Goverski all scoring on takes to the bucket.
Holding a 51-40 lead entering the final eight minutes, five points by Lily Phillips on a triple and a steal and score, sandwiched around six points from Mooney gave Cambridge a 62-40 advantage and the Indians closed things out over the remaining 4:30 to notch their eighth victory in as many outings.
Charli Goverski with 13 points and Jada Brown with 11 led Mechanicville (6-3), who will travel to Saratoga on Friday to face the Saints of Spa Catholic.
Cambridge placed four players in doubles with Lily Phillips scoring 19, Stasia Epler 16, Sophie Phillips 14 and Fiona Mooney adding 11 points for the Indians who will host the Witches of Greenwich on Friday night.
Congratulations to Cambridge basketball player Lily Phillips on being named Wasaren Sportsnet Player of the Week.
wasarensportsnet.com 