A 12-point first-quarter run for the Bow High girls’ basketball team proved to be the difference-maker in a key late-season with rival Merrimack Valley on Monday night.
The rowdy home crowd cheered as the Falcons won, 48-36, in a playoff-like contest between two of the expected high-seeded Division II programs. Jessica Chamberlin and Alex Larrabee came up big with 16 and 12 points, respectively, for Bow.
Chamberlin’s presence inside paired with perfection from the free-throw line (8-for-8) was too much for the Pride’s defense to handle all night. Merrimack Valley’s Macy Gordon led her team with 13 points, but a tenacious performance from the senior couldn’t make up for the slow start from the visitors.
Bow (12-2), from the opening tip-off, played with its high-press defense and up-tempo offense. The Falcons’ ball movement gave them long stretches of possession that allowed them to maintain their lead until the final buzzer.
“We put great defensive pressure on a good team,” said Bow coach Phil Davis. “We came out, played great defense and we were able to force some turnovers, get some layups. Helped us get into rhythm.”
The game-opening 12-0 run gave Bow’s raucous student section plenty of reason to make some noise – the last thing a Merrimack Valley team that was playing on the road wanted to see or hear.
“We talked about trying to come out strong on the road,” said MV coach Bob McNutt. “I don’t think we had a lack of energy or anything. I just thought that we didn’t really get into a flow offensively. We talked about being on the road and being able to be tied or be in the lead at the end of one and it sort of sets the tone, and we just got down way too early.”
McNutt felt the lack of rhythm in the first quarter all came down to shot selection.
“If the quarter was eight minutes, they probably had the ball for five and we had it for three, and we just didn’t get good shots up,” he said. “And so the first quarter just sort of set the tone.”
The visitors showed no signs of quitting, chipping away at the lead over the next two quarters and cutting the deficit to nine with one period to go.
The fourth quarter began with Bow up, 34-25. For the next four minutes, it was all Merrimack Valley, as the Pride broke down the Bow press and forced the home team into turnovers.
Davis said his team got a little too loose and let their opponent back in the game. McNutt credited his team’s relentless effort for the change in momentum.
“We battled,” said McNutt. “We tried a couple of things. We tried to press them, and it sort of got the energy going. We hit some shots. We’ve defended a little bit better. We rebounded a little bit better. And when we’re doing that, we’re a pretty good team.”
The Pride were down by just four points with four minutes left and looked to pull off another dramatic comeback win. Just when the Falcons looked like they would give up the lead, junior Lyndsey LaPerle stepped up.
The crafty guard wove her way through the defense and hit a highlight-worthy layup. The Bow crowd erupted and the momentum shifted back to the Falcons, something they never gave up. Add in MV’s foul trouble and Bow — which has now won 10 in a row — pulled away.
Monday’s game may be a preview for two teams that look headed to the playoffs. Bow finishes out its season with two road games and a final home matchup with Kingswood, while Merrimack Valley (12-3) will stay on the road for the remaining three games of their season.