The township’s Kate D’Ottaviano plays defense against Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s Averie Clement during the Minutemaids’ 49-24 victory on Jan. 6.
As nearly 100 fans filed into Washington Township High School’s old gymnasium on the evening of Jan. 6, little did they realize they would witness an amazing display of team defense in the first quarter by both teams.
When the horn sounded after eight minutes of furious action, the score was just 3-3, with the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) girls’ basketball team getting a bucket from Averie Clement and a foul shot from Nathalia Pagan. Sophomore Kate D’Ottaviano drained a three-pointer from long range for the Minutemaids’ only points.
Otherwise, it was all defense – with lots of steals – tough rebounds and instant pressing coverage against the player with the ball.
The scoring improved in the second quarter, started by Lena Giannini, who fought hard for an offensive rebound and made a put-back shot for Washington Township. The two teams then traded buckets, followed by a D’Ottaviano lay-up. Junior teammate Tessa Reilley showed great form burying a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 12-5 lead.
The Cheetahs clawed back into the game as Reilly McShane made two foul shots. Clement made a steal and raced down the court for a lay-up, and scored on the next possession with a baseline drive to the hoop to cut the lead to one point, 12-11.
Township freshman forward Aubrey Mack made a foul shot after a tough rebound. Then she blocked a shot, ran hard down the court and received a great pass for a fast break lay-up to give the Minutemaids a 15-11 lead as the quarter ended.
Head coach Jennifer Natale made some key adjustments during halftime to thwart the GCIT defense, and the township offense came out on fire in the third quarter. Senior Frankie Begley made a bucket to start the onslaught, followed by a 10-foot jumper by Reilley. The next time down the court, she measured a three-pointer and buried it for a 22-11 lead.
D’Ottaviano was next with a mid-range jumper and Begley drove hard to the hoop for another bucket. Junior Julianna Cassidy made two foul shots and D’Ottaviano scored another bucket. The scoring blitz ended with sophomore Jade Mazzuca burying a three pointer for a 33-11 lead.
Meanwhile, the Minutemaids also made adjustments on defense during halftime, and stifled the GCIT offense, which did not score one point in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, both coaches gave the bench players a lot of time on the court.
The final score was 49-24.
Leading scoring was D’Ottaviano with 15 points, Reilley with 10, Mack with seven points and Giannini with six. Mazzuca scored five points, Begley added four, and Cassidy contributed two points to round out the scoring. Also contributing to the victory were seniors Shyla McLean, Avery Piotrowski and Elena Dabrowski, and sophomore Eliana Strout.
Junior Averie Clement led GCIT with 11 points, senior Maggie Duer scored seven, and senior Reilly McShane and sophomore Naomi Woods both had two points. Nathalia Pagan and Octavia Adkins both made a foul shot for the Cheetahs.
Other players contributing were Addison Tinges, Ingrid Giannone, Carly Hernandez and Leah Fobare. GCIT’s head coach is Robert Iacovone.
Although the game started slowly, Washington Township took over in the third quarter for the win. They will meet the Cheetahs again on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
