RallyNorth.net

Mon, Dec 26, 2011 12:30 PM @ Whittier

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Greater Lowell	10	7	16	5	38
Whittier	12	15	17	17	61

Seniors, freshmen melding at Whittier

Monday, December, 26 By Jeff Hamrick

WHITTIER – In most high schools you won’t find many seniors mixing with the freshmen. At Whittier, however, they’re not only socializing but they also share the ball pretty well.

 

The upperclassmen on the girls basketball team wholeheartedly have welcomed a talented group of frosh to a squad that was one win away from the Division 4 North championship game. And because of that acceptance, the Wildcats should be ready for another deep postseason run.

 

“They’re all friends; they all went to the same (elementary and middle school),” Whittier coach Kevin Bradley said after yesterday’s 61-38 Commonwealth Conference victory over visiting Greater Lowell.

 

Being friends and having a cohesive basketball squad though are often two different things. It’s not often seniors – especially those that have carved out a 36-13 record while winning a pair of conference titles the previous two years – count on youngsters to get even better.

 

“That was the biggest concern,” Bradley said. “That’s what (assistant) Cheryl (Begin) and I talked about with the seniors. We asked them how good of a team do you want to be (this) year. They didn’t like getting knocked out in the (North) semifinals. They didn’t like that taste.

 

“Even in practice they don’t treat them any different than if they were a senior or junior. The whole team has bonded. They all know they have a job to do. They’ve all been winners and been accepting of each other … And it’s only going to get better.”

 

In opening the season with five straight victories, Whittier has shown off its selflessness as three different players – freshman Kayla Riley and seniors Christian Medley and Kendra Brasil – have each led the team in scoring at least once. Five players have scored double figures in at least one game. Their average margin of victory is 32.8 points.

 

Yesterday it was Medley (21) and Brasil (16), who paced the offense. Medley, who averaged 13.6 points and connected on 54 three-pointers last year, erupted in the second half, scoring 12 of her game-high 21 points which included five treys. Brasil added 16, nine in the second quarter. The other returning senior starter is Catherine Roche, who chipped in nine points and added nine steals.

 

The other freshmen include Andrea Terranova, who has 31 points on the season; Michaela Martin, the younger sister of Whittier graduate and three-time Eagle Tribune All Star Danielle; and 6-foot-4 Samnell Vonleh, the younger sister of New Hampton star Noah Vonleh.

 

“I knew we had a lot of freshmen coming in this year,” Medley said. “We needed to work on the chemistry. I knew they had a lot of talent, and they had the drive. You could see the passion they have for the game.

 

“We’re a team. We don’t look at grades. We don’t look at how big or how small you are. We’re teammates, and our expectations are very high. It’s by far the best chemistry we’ve had (at Whittier).”

 

It might also be one of the best defensive teams Bradley has had. This year’s group looks to run and uses a ball-hawking defense that employs full-court pressure and loves to trap. Against Greater Lowell (2-3 overall, 2-2 conference), the Wildcats forced 49 turnovers and attempted 26 more shots (75-49).

 

Whittier’s schedule should have the Wildcats tournament ready. The Wildcats play up in competition in home-and-home series against Brockton and Methuen and single games against Lexington, Pentucket and North Reading.

 

“This (schedule) will help them in the state tournament,” Bradley said. “I want this to be one of the best programs in the state, no matter what the division. And I think we’re on the brink of breaking that door down.”