Sports
Lady Wildcats Survive Close Encounter with Manchester
By: Ryan Kincaid
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Manchester High School (13-9) was a trap team lying in wait of a potential upset over the Waterford Lady Wildcats (19-4).
Although they wore away jerseys, the Lady Greyhounds’ fans were on their feet for every shot, every foul call and every momentum-swinging action that almost provided the quintessential shock to the D-IV girl’s bracket.
Almost.
Up by only one point at the end of the first half Waterford had to dig deep to silence the crowd and escape Jackson with a district win, and up stepped Cara Taylor to lead an offensive run in which she scored nine points in six minutes to earn her team some breathing room.
But Manchester answered with a run of their own, bringing the score back within one after three quarters.
Legs were shaking up and down the benches as both teams understood the last unit to get on a scoring run would win.
That team would be the Lady Cats.
With Manchester’s leading scorer Brooke Kennedy fouling out with 17 points, the Lady Greyhound’s offensive plan was compromised, and Waterford took full advantage recording numerous steals and drawing fouls to get to the line, resulting in a 57-49 decision that deceives the tight contest that unfolded.
Taylor’s 21 points led the Lady Cats’ stat sheet with Mackenzie Suprano netting 17 points and three steals, meanwhile Manchester’s squad had a balanced afternoon of scoring, with nobody other than Kennedy scoring more than ten points and all starters scored at least five points.
The Lady Wildcats now face Peebles in the district final. This win was Waterford’s 12thconsecutive district victory as they look to secure another district title and advance to regionals.