Gilbert falls late

WINSTED — Northwestern’s girls basketball team pulled away to a 50-41 win over Gilbert in the final two minutes of a crosstown rivalry game that lived up to its rich history Friday night at Northwestern High School.

The Highlanders (17-1; 15-1 Berkshire League) wiped out the Yellowjackets (12-6; 10-6 Berkshire

League) 52-30 a month ago at The Gilbert School, but in a packed house complete with Northwestern’s band, this one was up in the air until the final minute.

“We realized from the last game, we had to take better care of the ball,” said Gilbert coach Gerry Hicks.

“It hurt us that we beat them by 22 the last time,” said Northwestern coach Fred Williams. “We might have taken them for granted.”

So, in a perfect trap game, the Yellowjackets came out in their best start of the season, hustling for rebounds, taking smart shots and pinpointing passes under the hoop for an 11-5 lead at the end of the

first quarter, then poured on the gas through the second quarter.

Point guard Liz Wexler had five assists and a 3pointer. Dileysi Sarmiento (10 points); Abbey Beecher (10 points); and Marcy Moreira combined for seven more assists as Angie Delacruz (10 points) and Sarmiento sent home layup after layup, building to a 23-11 lead.

“When you’re down by 12 in the second period, you know you’re in trouble,” said Coach Williams. “We relied on senior leadership by Emma Propfe (gamehigh 19 points).”

Propfe, Northwestern’s all-star forward, couldn’t find the basket in the first quarter. Unfazed, she began the Highlander comeback with a personal 6-0 run in the half’s final two minutes with a converted steal, an eight-foot jumper and a layup.

At the half, the Yellowjacket lead was down to 23-17 with more to come.

“The plan was to try to tie it by the end of three,” said Williams.

Far from going away, Gilbert kicked its lead back to 29-19 in the first minute of the third period, but the pressure started to show. Instead of the first half ’s great passing, the Yellowjackets forced shots while Northwestern got the big

plays under the basket.

Highlander guard Frankie SeSanti led the way with four assists with a combined eight more from Skylar DiMartino, Emma Cameron, Natalie Lederman, and Propfe.

For the second time in a row, Northwestern scored the period’s final six points, this time on a layup from Jana Sanden and four more points for Propfe.

“We didn’t lose our composure,” said Williams, as the score stood 35-34, Gilbert.

“We couldn’t handle the success. When they made a little run, we got nervous,” Hicks said.

Nevertheless, the Yellowjackets kept battling. Propfe was the ultimate difference.

With 2:39 left, Northwestern led 40-39. A forced Gilbert drive flamed out.

At the other end, Propfe had the ball all alone in the corner. With plenty of time to set, she nailed the three.

The 43-39 lead allowed the Highlanders to start eating big chunks of time, even with a Wexler drive narrowing it to 43-41.

A foul shot and Emma Cameron layup stretched the lead to 46-41 with 47 seconds left. Propfe and Lederman were 4-for-4 from the foul line for the final points.