JV 40 vs. Memorial 29

Stratford hosted their biggest rival early Saturday, January 11th at home. Sparty has tended to start slowly during early games, but it was Memorial who slept in. The Spartans did wake them up but decided they wouldn’t let the little red ponies out of the barn.

Memorial tried a trick play off the tip off; it didn’t work, and Stratford wasn’t going to allow any cheap points this game. The defense was excellent, and it looked like the Spartans we have seen most of the year. The guards for Memorial had nowhere to go, as Aniyah Cunningham, Zoe Thompson, Claire Kadane, and Allie Moss were all over the place causing steals and palpable frustration for the Mustangs. Memorial had a size advantage underneath, but it was rendered useless as Brooke Sponsel and Stella Weiss took control of the post area by rebounding and scoring. The Mustangs were reduced to long-range shooting as their only option. The Spartans on the other hand went on an offensive terror in the first quarter. Led by Stella, who couldn’t be stopped in the paint as she hit driving layups and jumpers as well as a free throw for a 7-point quarter. Brooke also made her impact felt in the post by adding two baskets and two free throws. Zoe had her usual steals and two driving layups. Claire got in on the fun with a bucket as well. At the end of the first, Stratford was up 8.

The second was more of the same as defense took over. Of note, Abigail Williams literally drove one of the Mustang’s better guards to absolute visible frustration. Abigail was all over the place getting multiple steals and a block. Memorial also tightened up their defense, only allowing five Sparty points after the offensive explosion in the first. Allie hit a nice three-pointer from the wing, and Claire got a bucket to fall as well. At the half, it was Spartans 22 - Mustangs 14.

The third would be the decisive quarter for the Spartans. The defense got even stronger by only allowing three free throws and breaking the Mustang’s spirit. All the girls played great as the Stratford zone defense proved too much for Memorial. The scores for Sparty kept coming as Aniyah hit a high-arching three-pointer. Claire and Brooke both added a basket. Stella got a free throw. Zoe scored again and added a free throw. After three, the Spartans were up 16.

The fourth was just finishing up business. Memorial, as they do, did get hot from the outside. They were able to close the gap, but the game was never in question. Aniyah hit another nice three-pointer. Allie hit a jumper. Stella scored again on her way to a game-high 10 points. Stratford played an unselfish, well-defended, and overall, their best game of the year. A win is a win, but when you send the cross-town rivals home seeing “red with anger and Green with Envy,” it’s always a good day.

Stratford 40 – Memorial 29

JV 34 vs. Cy Creek 28

The Cy Creek Cougars came to visit to see if they could replicate their early season win. This time Stratford was ready for the rough and tumble playing style and took the claws right off the Cougars.

The first half of the game was an interesting display to say the least. Zoe Thompson, Allie Moss, Aniyah Cunningham, and Claire Kadane did a good job of holding the fast Cy Creek guards to little success. Again, Cy Creek wanted to go inside and use their size. The test fell to Brooke Sponsel, Stella Weiss, Resse Oppermann, and Abigail Williams to shut them down. They passed with flying colors as Cy Creek could only muster four points for the entire half. The game was very physical with lots of contact, which in turn stymied the Spartans scoring as well. Stella got a lay-in, Brooke added three free throws, and Claire got one from the charity stripe. That was it for all scoring in the half. In a barn-burner, it was Stratford 6 - Cy Creek 4 at half.

The third quarter looked less like a rugby match and more of a basketball game as Stratford started to control the game. The physicality came to a head when Allie took a chop across the neck after playing tight defense on a Cougar guard. Cy Creek was called for a technical, and Stella stepped up and dropped both free throws. Sparty figured out if you make a move to the basket more than likely you were going to get fouled. This plan worked out well as Stella added two more free throws and a bucket for the quarter. Abigail scored off a great hustle play, grabbing one of her many rebounds in heavy traffic and putting it back up. She then made a great pass to Zoe, who converted and got a free throw later in the quarter. Claire then stepped back and drained a three-pointer. Cy Creek didn’t go away, but Stratford was able to get a little breathing room. After three, the Spartans were up 19-14.

The final frame would see Zoe doing Zoe things and taking over the game with great hustle and defense. She had multiple steals that led to baskets, and Stella also hit her with a great pass to score again. She would score nine points in the fourth on her way to a game-high 12 points. Stella also scored again on her way to 10 points for the game. Aniyah would later take a pass from Allie and drain another three-pointer to finish out the scoring. Cy Creek made a big push in the end with a semi-successful press. It turned out to be too little, too late as the girls went into stall mode and finished off the Cougars. It was a tale of two halves, but in the end, Stratford was able to avenge the early District loss.

Stratford 34 - Cy Creek 28