MIDDIES THRILLED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP CHANCE
Dracut to meet Foxboro at 6 p.m. at the Tsongas Center
DRACUT >> An exciting new chapter in the annals of Dracut High girls basketball history will unfold Saturday at the Tsongas Center, as the sixth-seeded Middies girls basketball team takes on fifth-seeded Foxboro for the Division 2 state championship at 6 p.m.
This marks the first time a Dracut High hoop team has made it to the big dance and the team appears confident as the game approaches.
“I think the kids are focused and dialed in,” said Dracut coach Peter Witts. “They’re very business-like with what they’ve got to do to prepare. I think they know it’s a great opportunity. They don’t want to let this slip by.”
Leading the way for the Middies (20-6) is senior quad-captain Ashlee Talbot. The all-star point guard is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 22.2 points and shooting a blistering 79.9 percent from the free throw line. Talbot is closing in on 1,500 career points and she missed 10 games due to a Covid-shortened season.
“Ash is our everything,” said Witts. “She’s one of the best guards in the state. A knockdown shooter, ball distributer and runs our offense.”
A talented playmaker, Talbot leads the team with 120 assists. The point guard is also a defensive wizard, ranking second in rebounds (158), including 110 defensive boards, while creating a team-best 94 turnovers.
“She’s our robber when we play trapping zone defense,” said Witts. “Ashlee has a great read of the ball. For the last four years she’s changed our program.”
A grizzled veteran, senior quad-captain Emma Felker found her footing in postseason play. The power forward is second in scoring, averaging 11.1 points. She’s been deadly from three-point range, shooting at a nifty 30.3 percent clip. She’s leads the Middies in two-point shooting at 48 percent, while ranking second with 12 blocks.
“Last year, Emma came off the bench and was a great shooter,” said Witts. “Now she’s devel
oping an inside game, not just relying on the outside. She’s such a great catch and shoot kid to knock down the three. She can do it from any place around the arc if she’s left open.”
When it comes to court tenacity, nobody brings it like Brodie Gannon. The senior quad-captain adds much-needed grit.
“Brodie is probably the toughest kid we’ve got on the team both mentally and physically,” said Witts. “She’s so focused and tuned into the game. She rebounds, plays the post, and is a knock down three player.”
Gannon has spread her wings on offense. She’s averaging 7.5 points and is among the team’s top four in just about every other statistical category, ranking third in assists (35) and fourth in steals (21).
A pair of recent additions have put Dracut’s starting lineup over the top.
Junior guard Lamees Alasaad has been a revelation since moving into town. The Revere native has been Dracut’s top defensive workhorse. She ranks third in points (8.2), first in steals (91) and second in assists (64).
“Lamees has tremendous energy on the floor, and handles the ball well,” said Witts. “She’s also becoming a scoring threat for us. She attacks the basket and distributes the ball well.”
Dracut’s lockdown defender, Alasaad has pulled down 114 rebounds. She showcased her game-breaking skill with a game-shifting steal and easy layup in the closing seconds against Medfield. She’s expected to shadow Foxboro point guard Cameron Collins on Saturday.
Another player who has emerged is senior Amaya Alkassar. A JV player her freshman year, Alkassar sat out the two seasons before giving the varsity another shot. Although she struggled initially to adapt, she has become a fast learner.
“As the year went on her confidence came,” said Witts. “Her presence in the paint has been a big factor that we didn’t have last year.”
Averaging 5.3 points a game and ranking second among starters in free throw shooting (68.3), Alkassar has utilized her 6-foot-1 frame well. She’s pulled down a team-high 210 rebounds, including a team-best 134 defensive boards and 86 offensive rebounds. She also leads with 31 blocks.
“She has that long wingspan that takes up a lot of space in the paint, which is so valuable for us on the defensive end,” said Witts.
Senior quad-captain Mackenzie Murphy has provided sound defense and ample playmaking off the bench. Junior guard Kiara Cook has surprised as Alasaad’s understudy. Senior center Corinne Coomas has filled in for Alkassar, providing a physical presence, with junior Riley Fahey also stepping in whenever the center falls into foul trouble. Freshman forward Cassidy Saindon has served notice as a defensive-minded rookie.
“Those are the things that role players need to do,” said Witts, who credits the work of assistant coach Steve Talbot and JV coach Andrea Stukas for their help. “We always tell our kids just be us as a team. If we play our style, then we’ll be successful. And you’ve got to trust the process.”