RallyNorth.net

Tue, Feb 06, 2018 06:30 PM @ Pelham

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Windham	11	10	5	9	35
Pelham	11	15	6	13	45

Rough, tough and terrific: Gagnon, Pelham win bruiser against rival Windham

Tuesday, February, 06 By Kyle Gaudette

PELHAM - The only thing soft on the court Tuesday night was the piece of cotton sticking from Olivia Gagnon's nose after she took an elbow driving to the hoop.

But that only kept the Pelham junior off the court for a minute or so during the third quarter.

When Gagnon returned from the bloody nose, she nailed a key 3-pointer to help the Pythons earn a 45-35 victory over rival Windham.

"Olivia, by the way, it's a good look on you," smiled coach Bob Shepard during a free throw break.

She definitely earned the praise after her team-high 14 points with six rebounds helped fuel the victory.

"We were both going for the ball and the elbow just got me in the nose," said Gagnon, a soccer tri-captain during the fall. "I feel good. It's very nice to beat our rivals."

Gagnon has been a key cog for Pelham (14-2, 12-1 NH) this season. She is averaging 13.6 points, and has nailed a team-high 31 3-pointers. She is the engine that makes the offense go, as well as the spot-up shooter the team needs when the opposing defense collapses on 6-1 forward Danielle Sirois (16.8 ppg) in the point.

With 1,000-point scorer Lilly Shlimon now starring at Keene State, Gagnon is picking up the offense left behind.

"I'm not trying to step into anyone's shoes," she said. "I'm just trying to help the team being as successful as we can be."

Her coach is certainly willing to dish out praise.

"She showed how she can be tough," said Shepard. "She had to play most of the half with a piece of cotton in her nose, and she gritted it out. She's a good, tough player. When we need to score, we need the ball in her hands or Danielle's hands."

Tuesday night was an aggressive game from the opening tip.

Both teams took their fair share of punishment driving to the hoop, and the jerseys of Pelham's Cheyenne Lee and Windham's Ali Schiebel would be a giant grass stain if the game was played on a field with how often they were diving for loose balls.

Perhaps the grittiest matchup of the night was Pelham's Jillian Schwab guarding Windham All-Star Kaleigh Walsh.

True to form, Walsh finished with a team-high 14 points for the Jaguars (10-5, 9-4 NH), but Schwab wasn't making anything easy.

"I liked the way the refs called the game," said Shepard. "They let the kids be physical, and that was good for us because we like to be physical. It was a gritty game. Windham is a good team."

Leading 32-26 heading into the fourth, Sirois (13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks) had a big putback layup early in the quarter to extend the lead to double-digits. Walsh nailed a 25-foot 3-pointer to make it a 35-31 game, but that is as close the Jaguars would get.

Pelham, winners of nine straight, looks like contenders in Division 2.

And after last year's heartbreaking 1-point loss to Lebanon in the state semifinals, Gagnon is confident the Pythons can go one step farther.

"We're going all the way this year," said Gagnon. "We're working really hard and we're coming together as a team. Hopefully we can make it to the championship and win it."

 

Pelham 45, Windham 35

Windham (35): Sarah Dempsey 2-0-4, Ali Schiebel 2-1-6, Emily Orciani 0-0-0, Sam Adamson 2-0-4, Kaleigh Walsh 3-7-14, Livi Tsetsilas 1-1-3, Charlotte McNeal 2-0-4, Abby Husson 0-0-0, Faith Veilleux 0-0-0. Totals 12-9-35

Pelham (45): Olivia Gagnon 5-2-14, Jillian Schwab 1-0-2, Caitlin Riordan 4-0-8, Cheyenne Lee 0-0-0, Danielle Sirois 6-1-13, Lili Rutherford 3-0-6, McKenna Williams 0-0-0, Caroline Joncas 0-0-0, Abbey Schwab 0-0-0, Jordyn Galgay 0-0-0, Tallie Carney 0-2-2. Totals 19-5-45

3-pointers: P - Gagnon 2; W - Walsh, Schiebel

Windham (10-5, 9-4 NH):     11 10 5  9 - 35

Pelham (14-2, 12-1 NH):     11 15 6 13 - 45