Medfield D clamps down on Norwood in victory
Olenik scores game-high 17 points for Warriors
MEDFIELD — A week after suffocating Westwood with its defense, Norwood simply proved to be Medfield’s next victim.
Kate Olenik scored a game-high 17 points while Medfield limited the Mustangs to less than 30% shooting from the field to come away with a 60-39 home victory on Tuesday.
The Warriors have yet to allow more than 40 points in a game this season, holding the Wolverines in each of their wins last week to 35 and 36 points, respectively.
“We’re playing for a championship every game we play,” Medfield coach Mark
Nickerson said. “Whether it’s a state championship or in this case a league championship we’re playing for that title every time we are out there and I thought our girls brought that type of mentality tonight.”
While there is no MIAA state tournament this year, Medfield certainly looks like the class of the Tri-Valley League in the early going. The Warriors defense wrecked havoc for most of the night on Tuesday, particularly in the first half, clogging the paint and preventing Norwood star Meghan Olbrys from getting in any sort of rhythm. Over the first 16 minutes of play, the Warriors allowed just 16 points and four field goals.
As the defense handled matters at one end of the floor, the Warriors attacked the basket relentlessly at the other. Camilla Sink got Medfield started with five points in the opening quarter before Olenik scored five of her own in the second quarter to help push Medfield out to a 26-16 lead at the break. Foul trouble kept Olbrys on the Mustangs’ bench for most of the second quarter.
“(Norwood) got into a little bit of foul trouble and that allowed us to keep attacking,” Nickerson said. “We knocked down some shots at the line and really tried to get inside when (Olbrys) was out. We only hit a couple of 3s and that’s totally fine with me. Our girls just went hard at the rim.”
The Warriors extended their lead early in the third quarter with Olenik completing a three-point play, Maya Hilvert finishing twice around the basket, and Lillie Cumming knocking down two shots of her own to help push Medfield out to a 35-22 lead.
Elsewhere in the TVL, Senior Hannah Sheldon registered 24 points to power Norton past Bellingham, 65-38.
In the Patriot League, Laurene Jordan and Sydney Ropes tallied 13 points apiece, as Duxbury (3-0) doubled up Quincy, 38-19.
Samantha Pfeil posted 17 points, Kaitlyn Tierney added 14 and Stephanie Tardugno had 10 to pace Methuen past Dracut, 61-54 in overtime, in the Merrimack Valley Conference. ... Colleen Phiri scored 32 points as Haverhill defeated Lowell, 63-45.
In the South Shore League, Julia Elie (13 points) and Charlie Kelliher (12 points) each scored in double figures for Rockland as it defeated East Bridgewater, 44-27.
Kenzie Matulonis scored 16 points, dished out six assists and had seven steals as Bridgewater-Raynham rolled to a 65-24 win over Brockton in the Southeast Conference.
Maura Dorr had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Winthrop to a 47-37 win over Beverly in the Northeastern Conference.
Boys basketball
Isaiah Taylor registered his 1,000th career point on a night he also swiped 16 steals, leading Lowell Catholic to a 99-27 blowout of Innovation Academy in nonleague play.
Senior captain Drew Lucas led Peabody with 20 points as part of a season-opening 4940 victory over Gloucester in the Northeastern Conference.
Michael Loughnane scored 20 points as BC High (1-1) defeated Xaverian, 88-65, in the Catholic Conference.
Ryan Oullette sounded off for 26 points for Dighton-Rehoboth en route to a 77-40 South Coast Conference win over Bourne. … Joe Nugent notched 25 points as Somerset Berkley defeated Old Rochester, 64-57.
Jeceb McKenzie had 18 points and four assists as Lowell defeated Haverhill, 5335, in the Merrimack Valley Conference.
Shea Doherty scored 17 points as Acton-Boxboro (2-0) disposed of Cambridge, 67-54, in the Dual County League. … Junior Kyle O’Connell picked up 19 points and eight rebounds, Matt Dooley added 14 points and Nick Rossi had 11 for Lincoln-Sudbury (1-1) in a 61-47 win over Concordto give Linda Martindale her first win as head coach of the boys program.
Seniors Derek Williams and Patrick Moriarty combined for 29 points as Rockland opened with a 48-34 win over East Bridgewater in a South Shore League matchup.