Juliana Covino
Staff Writer
Do not underestimate the Lady Lions basketball team this year. The girls, who currently have a record of 7-2, took home the first place trophy in the Over the River Classic during winter break. Even though the team is both short in players and height, that does not stop them from playing with toughness and tenacity on the court. The tournament consisted of single elimination games between four teams (NHS, South Hunterdon, Villa Joseph Marie, and West-Windsor Plainsboro).
New Hope’s first game was against West-Windsor Plainsboro on Dec. 27 in the high school gym. This was a big rematch since both teams faced each other in 2017 for the championship. New Hope took the lead right from the beginning and was relentless on defense, causing 10 turnovers. Kate Dougherty, a sophomore, had a remarkable game putting up 16 points for the Lions. In addition, Zoe Palau, a senior, followed close behind, contributing an impressive 11 points for the team. The Lady Lions won the game 56-38, shooting 47% from the field and earning a spot in the championship game.
The championship was played on Dec. 28, the Lions facing Villa Joseph Marie High School. The game was close in score throughout the entire first, second, and third quarter; however, by the end of the fourth quarter, New Hope had outscored Villa by nine points. The girls were patient on offense, treating every possession with care and looking into the post for a high percentage shot. Rachel Saxton, a sophomore, was relentless on offense, leading the team in scoring with an astounding 22 points. Even though the team struggled on the foul line during the first half, they made up for it with their defensive skills and athleticism. The final score of the game was 52-43, making this the sixth year in a row that the New Hope Solebury girls basketball team has won the Over the River Classic.
The team is coached by Andy Krasna and Kevin Gallagher and currently has a record of 8-2. Students and teachers come out and support the girl’s basketball team as they face the end of the season. The girls next home games are Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5:00 p.m and Jan. 19 at 1:00 p.m.
