By Norman Miller
HOLDEN -- Playing with only seven basketball players is tough enough against anybody, but the Fitchburg High girls' basketball team found out it was a lot tougher when playing against a team of the caliber of Wachusett Regional, losing 68-57.
"We only have seven players," said FHS coach Tony Alario. "They did good, but they got tired."
Bench play was the a key, Wachusett outscoring Fitchburg 16-6 off the bench, with Erin Collins scoring eight. But the difference was at the end with Wachuwett's players being fresh while Fitchburg's were not.
The Mountaineers (11-4 overall, 6-1 league) also had something else going for them that Fitchburg didn't have -- size. Starting two players at 5-11, they were clearing out space for rebounds, and causing match up problems inside, allowing Jessica Morgan to pour in 17 points, 10 in the second half.
Early in the game, the height or the lack of reserves didn't hinder the Red Raiders (9-4 overall, 5-3 league). It was their defense, or lack of, as Wachusett drove through the middle of the defense, scoring 16 points before Collins drained their first jump shot of the game.
But the FHS defense stepped it up, using its pressure to score two consecutive baskets, bringing it within 18-14. Throughout the game, FHS' defense caused problems in the backcourt for the Mountaineers.
"I thought we got a bad deal from the officials," said Wachusett coach Jim Gately. "A lot of those steals were bumps."
Fitchburg brought it within one at 31-30, but couldn't get any closer in the first half, eventually going in the half down 36-31.
Sara Thomas led the Red Raiders with 10 first half points, while Stehanie Aubin matched her with 10, pacing the Mountaineers.
To begin the second half, Aubin picked up two quick fouls to give her four fouls for the game, allowing Fitchburg a chance to take the lead. But they couldn't get any closer than one, as Morgan kept hitting hoops to keep the Mountaineers up by three. Wachusett's defense did a good job in the second half, holding Thomas to only four points, but fellow captain Shelly Richard had a good second half scoring 11 of her 16 points in the half.
After a timeout by Wachusett with a little over three minutes remaining in the game, and the score 58-53, the Mountaineers came out and outscored the Red Raiders 10-4 over the remainder of the game.
"I called a timeout, and told them to go inside, and we hit a couple of hoops to pull away," said Gately.
"We played good basketball until the last two minutes," said Alario. "I was disgusted the last two minutes, on offense and defense, we just stood around."
These two teams have a rematch Monday night at the Academy Street Brickyard.