Durham, Landry best friends on, off court
North Middlesex Regional duo share a special bond
TOWNSEND >> Ever since they met in first grade, Gabby Durham and Julia Landry have built a special friendship.
The seniors, Townsend residents and two-year captains at North Middlesex Regional High School live a few minutes from one another and mainly through basketball, have been best friends, or as they say, like sisters.
They have spent countless hours in each other’s driveway, or any basketball court they could find, to play 1- on-1 against each other. They played in youth leagues together, on the same AAU teams together and they are both in their fifth year of the Patriots’ program, first playing on the JV team as eighth- graders and now in their fourth and final season with the varsity team.
They have been league allstars and can put up their share of points. Had it not been for the abbreviated COVID season, both would be heading toward scoring 1,000 points.
“Their friendship goes beyond the basketball court. They can lean on each other life wise, school wise and then come back to what we call a family culture here,” said head coach Geoff Bellingham. “They have always been such a big part of this family culture. They helped build that right from the start. No matter win, lose or draw, it’s just so cool to be on the floor with them every single day.”
Durham is averaging 15 points a game this season, which includes a 25-point performance against Shepherd Hill. Landry has averaged over 10 points a game throughout her career, including her 22-point night against Groton-dunstable earlier this season.
Last year the duo were instrumental in the team’s 13-win season, which included a first-round state tournament loss to Division 2 state champion Oliver Ames. This year’s team is 3-7, but it’s not all about wins and losses.
“Julia is everything to me and I
can’t imagine my life without her. Even going a few days without seeing her is tough because she’s literally a part of me. She’s my best friend,” Durham said. “Basketball has definitely strengthened our friendship. We know that we can always talk about it, talk about the ups and downs on the court and stuff like that.”
Durham serves as the team’s point guard.
“Gabby is honestly one of the most level-headed, intelligent ballhandlers I have ever seen,” said Bellingham. “She’s absolutely special in that way. She has also developed into a scorer. She’s not the tallest person at 5-feet-6 inches but that never has affected her because she is wildly talented. She’s probably the most selfless player I’ve ever had. She makes everyone on the court better. She never stops on both ends of the court. She can shoot the three, big time. She can hit from four or five feet from beyond the line. She doesn’t do that every day but her range for a kid that size is(impressive).”
Landry is a different type of player. She stands 5-foot-9 and alternates between shooting guard and forward.
“Julia has been one incredible defender in her career. In her four years, she has guarded every position, on any day. She’ll do anything you ask of her. She’s a high motor player. She plays in both ends,” said Bellingham. “Her passion for the game is notably unmatched. In the offensive end, she’s an incredible shooter, she moves the ball but that all stems back to her defense, and her passion and care.”
Once this season is completed, the two plan on playing four more years together at Umass Boston.
“Gabby is my rock. We have been through it all together, the good times and
the bad times. It’s just crazy to me that I can have someone to lean on and trust fully. She’s one of the very
few people who I can fully trust. It’s a really good relationship,” Landry said. “We are with each other every
single day. There’s just so much love between the two of us. It’s just a great friendship. The relationship that
we have has just made my life better in so many ways. I would never take that for granted.”