Jackets and Highlanders split victories in back-to-back games

WINSTED — Northwestern Regional High School hosted its crosstown nemesis, The Gilbert School, in back-to-back basketball games on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Northwestern’s ladies opened the evening by hammering the Jackets 55-19, but Gilbert’s boys had the last word, taking home a hard-fought 79-69 victory.GirlsGilbert’s woes were obvious from the tip-off as they struggled to ignite their offense and get beyond Northwestern’s defensive barricade. The Highlanders, on the other hand, set up quick, efficient plays and finished neatly. Northwestern’s Shanley McClave was remarkable throughout the first quarter, scoring 10 of the Highlanders 17 points while keeping Gilbert’s scoring limited to one field goal and a couple of foul shots.The Jackets seemed a little better after the first break, but Northwestern continued to win all the little battles beneath the boards and in both zones. The Highlander defense shined as brightly as the offense, managing to pacify Jacket offensive leader Nicole Nash throughout the first half to give way for a strong 26-12 lead heading into the halftime break.Out of the break, the Jackets seemed to find the edge to their defense, keeping Northwestern scoreless through the first three minutes of the quarter. Unfortunately for the Jackets, they, too, were scoreless throughout those grueling three minutes, when neither side seemed capable of reactivating their offense. The Highlanders began snagging long lob passes and used those turnovers to resuscitate their scoring game, taking a commanding 45-19 lead into the final quarter.Northwestern kept the Jackets scoreless through the fourth while building upon their own lead to seize a 55-19 win over Gilbert.McClave led the Highlanders with 17 points, Rasa Hamel scored 12 and Sarah Raftery finished out the night with seven. Yellowjacket Kara Mochak led her team with seven points, while Nicole Nash and Rachel Wendell scored five apiece.The Highlanders took a moment after the game to give head coach Fred Williams a belated celebration for winning 500 games in his coaching career. Williams claimed number 500 in January of last year and was honored by his team as well as a group of Highlander alumni who made their way to the court to show their appreciation for Williams’ selflessness in his coaching career.BoysShortly after the girls claimed the win at home, the Highlander boys were looking for a similar outcome as they prepared to face the Gilbert boys basketball squad. The Gentlemen Jackets were hoping for a strong start against rival Northwestern after taking a very emotional and difficult loss to Nonnewaug in their previous outing. The Jackets did generate the kind of start that was necessary to reclaim their earlier season momentum, taking a solid lead early with clean, sharp passes and offensive awareness beneath Northwestern’s net. Jackets Elide Romero and Austin Brochu led the way on both ends of the court, denying most of the Highlanders’ secondary scoring opportunities with hard work beneath their own net while showing incredible finish in Northwestern’s end. The Jackets led the Highlanders 25-13 in the first quarter.Gilbert maintained their first-quarter momentum, putting together smart offensive plays and active defensive work in their own end. The Jackets began to pull away early, stripping balls away and forcing turnovers that they converted into scoring chances. By the end of the second, Gilbert had a 40-24 lead.Bobby Lippincott, who scored his 1,000th point this season, seemed to have some difficulty generating his usual offensive numbers for the Highlanders and continued to struggle through the third as Yellowjacket Romero offered a strong defensive performance against one of the Highlanders’ best. Northwestern sparked late in the quarter, but Gilbert managed to pick up their play in the final minutes to hold onto a 56-44 lead after three.The Jackets seemed to have absolute command of the game through the majority of the fourth, maintaining the high level of performance they have demonstrated all season. Northwestern, however, refused to allow their crosstown foe the opportunity of an easy win and began closing the gap in the final three minutes of the quarter.Lippincott found his offensive touch late. His back-to-back turnovers put the game within reach. The Jackets led 74-69 with just a minute to go. The sudden eruption of offense invigorated the crowd, but late fouls trampled the Highlanders’ hopes of a last-minute rally. The Jackets held on to take the road win, 79-69.Yellowjacket Brochu led the scoring with 22 points, Elide Romero scored 21 and Robert Skinner finished with 19 points. Highlander Connor Guiheen scored 20, John Stevens tallied 18 and Lippincott scored 12.Gilbert head coach Mark Douglass commented on his team’s ability to recover from an emotional loss to play in an equally emotional game.“We allowed Nonnewaug to get into our heads,” said Douglass. “I showed them the tape of that game and what Nonnewaug did to us, and then showed them the tape of our first game against Northwestern this year. I just had to show them that we are still the team that went 9-1 earlier this year.”