Out-rebounding, out-stealing and out-defending, along with more success in setting up the offense, placed the Westfield High School girls basketball team in the driver’s seat against the Morris Hills Scarlet Knights in Westfield on January 2. The Blue Devils found immediate success in their short game with numerous assists to get under the boards for layups and despite a second-quarter “hiccup”, grabbed a comfortable 25-9, halftime lead en route to a 47-25 triumph.

“Games like this aren’t easy when you struggle to find your rhythm offensively so I’m proud of the way we hung in there and got a little better each quarter. It all starts with defense and I think that showed,” Blue Devil Head Coach Liz McKeon explained.

Neither team contributed much from 3-point range as the Blue Devils sank just two from the perimeter and the Scarlet Knights sank three, but two of them came in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils dominated the Knights under the boards, 41-25 in rebounds and led in steals, 15-9. The 14 assists paid dividends as did hitting nine of 12 from the free throw line for 75 percent. The Knights were 8-for-12 from the line for 67 percent.

Junior guard Sophie Lane led the Blue Devils in scoring with 13 points, including a 3-pointer and going 2for-2 from the line. She also had five rebounds and a steal. Junior guard Megan Logan led in rebounds with 10 and added seven points, four assists and a block. Sophomore guard Mairin Fowler dished out five assists, scored five points (3-pointer), had four rebounds and tied sophomore guard Catherine Oliveira (8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) in steals with four.

Senior Catie Carayannopoulos had three blocks and added six rebounds and a steal, while going 2-for-2 from the line. Junior Darby Hubner scored four points and pulled three boards. Sophomore Molly McDermott finished with two points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal. Senior Laura Oliveira had two steals and a rebound. Junior Darby Hubner (3 rebounds) and sophomore Lucy Burke (2 rebounds, steal) each scored four points. Freshman guard Kate Cymbor contributed two points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The Blue Devils limited Knights Nicole Rivera (7 rebounds, 3 steals, assist) to six points and Juliet Johnson (5 rebounds, 2 blocks) to four points. Holly Lagitch hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Carli Haigh sank a 3-pointer and added two steals and a rebound. Faith Bode finished with four points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Point guard Emily Mulrooney had two steals and two rebounds. Lexi Francia had two points, three rebounds and a steal. Shaina Sackett had three points and a rebound.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 135 lead in the first quarter. Lane scored four points, Logan had a lay-up and a free throw and Carayannopoulos sank a pair of free throws, while Fowler and Cat Oliveira each put in two points. Haigh nailed her 3-pointer and Rivera scored two points.

But sloppy play seemed to get contagious in the second quarter and neither team scored a point for the first 5:07. With 3:40 left in the quarter, Francia went to the line but missed both of her free throws. Then on an inbound situation, Fowler fed Lane for a lay-up for the first score with 2:53 showing. Moments later, Fowler assisted Logan for another lay-up then Cymbor assisted Fowler on her 3pointer to stretch the lead to 21-6 with 1:53 on the clock. Next, Lane grabbed a rebound and added a putback. The Knights’ first point of the quarter came with :55.6 left when Bode sank the second of her two free throws. Logan answered with a putback then Rivera sank a pair of free throws as the quarter ended.

“Morris Hills definitely seemed off in the second quarter, and I think our defense played a big role in making them uncomfortable. The pace definitely picked up once we settled into a rhythm, and I was particularly pleased with how Sophie and Megan capitalized on those key rebounds,” Coach McKeon said.

The third quarter was an 8-8 standoff. Assists from McDermott, Logan and Fowler accounted for six of the points and the other two were on Lane’s free throws. The Knights sank four free throws and lay-ups were made by Bode and Johnson.

With a 33-17 Westfield lead, Carayannopoulos, Logan, Lane and Fowler took a seat for the majority of the fourth quarter and Catherine Oliveira enjoyed taking command, aggressively driving to the basket for three lay-ups. Burke sank a pair of free throws and a lay-up. Cymbor hit a pair of free throws and Hubner added two points. The Blue Devils did score the first 10 points of the quarter to take a 43-17 lead before Lagitch sank her first 3-pointer. As time wound down, Rivera added two points and Lagitch pumped in her final 3-pointer.

“As for Cat, she started off a little slow offensively but I was proud of how she used her defensive intensity to propel her. I love seeing her take that aggressive approach to the basket – it’s a huge boost for her and us,” Coach McKeon expressed.

The Blue Devils would have a serious showdown at home on January 4 with the 5-1 New Providence Pioneers, who just recently suffered a heartbreaking, 51-48 setback to Teaneck.

“We’ll definitely be focusing on some adjustments for New Providence on Saturday, but I feel good about how we’re progressing,” Coach McKeon commented.

Morris Hills 5 4 8 8 25 Westfield 13 12 8 14 47