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01/16/2022 11:00 PMAfter winning just one game during the 2020-’21 campaign, Head Coach Bernie Brennan and the Guilford girls’ basketball team were determined to make a statement this winter. So far, so good as the Grizzlies are off to a 5-1 start with all five of their victories coming by at least eight points.
Guilford went a couple of weeks without playing a game over the holidays, but now the Grizzlies are back in action and have recorded four victories in a row.
“We won our first game, then got shut down because of COVID for two weeks,” Coach Brennan said. “Since we returned on Jan. 3, we had to play Mercy after only two practices and a two-week layoff without several players who were still in the return-to-play protocols. Even though we were shorthanded, the girls battled hard that entire game. Since then, we’ve beat Morgan, Sheehan, North Haven, and Branford, and we’re 5-1 overall.”
Guilford hit its stride by posting convincing victories against Sheehan, North Haven, and Branford last week. On Jan. 10, Guilford hosted an undefeated Sheehan team and came away with a 46-38 victory versus the Titans.
Senior captain guard Faith O’Donnell led the Grizzlies with 17 points in the win. Fellow senior captain guard Miabella Diaz had 6 points to go with 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior forward Kat Baseggio contributed with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Grizzlies.
“Sheehan’s a good team. They were undefeated at the time. We’re really starting to get it as a team,” said Brennan. “I feel like we’re going to be really good. It’s good to have all of these kids back after being short staffed all of last season. We have a lot of depth, and we always have fresh bodies on the court, which has been beneficial for us.”
Two days later, the Grizzlies faced North Haven on the road and defeated the Nighthawks 48-38. Guilford held a 29-27 lead over North Haven at halftime and was up 36-32 heading into the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies went on to outscore North Haven 12-6 during the final frame to come away with a 10-point victory.
Senior Lauren Cunneen scored 13 points for Guilford in the win. Diaz and O’Donnell scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Juniors Olivia Weekes and Baseggio added 7 points apiece. Baseggio also had 11 rebounds and 8 assists in the Grizzlies’ comeback victory.
“We were down 12-4 against North Haven early on, but by the end of the game, we were answering every run they made,” Brennan said. “We’re getting balanced scoring, and whenever we need a contribution, someone is always there to step up for us.”
Guilford finished its week by notching a 46-22 win against Branford in a home game on Jan. 14. Guilford was up 8-6 after the first quarter and then outscored the Hornets 16-0 in the second to take a 24-6 halftime advantage. The Grizzlies won both the third (8-5) and fourth (14-11) quarters on their way to a 24-point victory.
Cunneen scored 15 points for Guilford on the night. O’Donnell had 9 points, while Baseggio and Weekes scored 6 points apiece for Coach Brennan’s club.
“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of teams this year,” Brennan said. “Kat played one of the best games of the season against Branford and had an outstanding defensive performance. She shut down one of Branford’s top players and was a big reason we had so much success in that win.”
Diaz and O’Connell are serving as the senior captains for the Grizzlies, whose senior class also features Cunneen, Francesca Meneo, and Rachel Ellison. Guilford’s junior corps includes Baseggio, Weekes, and Ava Lepro.
“Miabella Diaz and Faith O’Donnell are returning captains who both want to play basketball in college, and both play AAU basketball in the spring and summer. They both are hard workers who want to get better and have provided great leadership so far,” said Coach Brennan. “Kat Baseggio is a Division I athlete. She’ll be playing lacrosse at Delaware University. She’s a lockdown defender and dominates the game with her athletic ability.”
The Grizzlies’ sophomore class features Gianna Amter. The freshmen on the team are Keira Reynolds, Alexa Kukta, and Kate Footit. Coach Breenan feels that there’s a lot of talent in Guilford’s underclass ranks. Brennan believes that the Grizzlies will get a big boost when Reynolds returns from a preseason injury.
“Keira is the fastest girl I have ever coached. She is a lockdown defender who changes the game with her speed and scoring ability,” Brennan said. “As soon as she is healthy, we will be even better and deeper.”