Highlanders eke out victory over Nonnewaug, 49-46

WINSTED — Northwestern’s girls basketball squad edged out a narrow win at home on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The Highlanders held off the Nonnewaug Chiefs to seize a 49-46 victory.

Nonnewaug notched the first points of the evening from the foul line and built a very slight lead in the opening minutes. The Highlanders were swift to respond, matching the score with a solid effort in their own zone and strong finish around Nonnewaug’s net.

Northwestern’s Sarah Raftery broke the tie with a shot from the outside to pull ahead just slightly — a lead they would struggle to maintain until the game’s end. The Highlanders led the Chiefs at the end of the first quarter, 13-7.

Northwestern’s defensive efforts and the work beneath their own net to halt second-chance scoring opportunities afforded them a strong start in the second. The Highlanders continued to extend the gap with magnificent effort and finish battling in Nonnewaug’s end. A sudden and unexpected surge from the Chiefs quickly decimated Northwestern’s lead, allowing them to finish just behind the Highlanders before the halftime break with a score of 23-19.

Northwestern recaptured the momentum after the half, but the Chiefs continued to nip at their heels and finished out the third still within reach to upset Northwestern at home, 35-32.

The fourth quarter proved to be an unending, desperate scrap, particularly below the boards. The Highlanders’ efforts endured and kept Nonnewaug narrowly out of reach of tying the game.

The Chiefs trailed 44-41 at the 50-second mark, then cut the gap again to trail by just one point with 24 seconds to go. The Highlanders made the best of a few late-game foul shots to pull ahead by three with six seconds remaining, now leading 49-46.

The Chiefs battled until the final buzzer, however, ringing a long three-point attempt off the rim. The Highlanders took the hard earned 49-46 win at home.

Northwestern’s Kaci Seibert was spectacular offensively throughout the evening, tallying a team high 18 points. Nicole Folino offered a great deal of second-half offense as well, finishing the night with 13 points, while Shanley McClave tallied eight points of her own.

The Highlanders’ season record improves to 2-1, while Nonnewaug drops to 1-2.