Bishop Guertin girls basketball passes biggest test so far with win over Mercy

NASHUA – The undefeated and loaded Bishop Guertin High School girls basketball team has been sitting at the top of the Division I standings in a league of its own, as the Cardinals have accumulated blowout wins in eight of their first nine games this winter.

That was not the case on Saturday afternoon, as the Cardinals welcomed Connecticut-powerhouse Mercy to the Collignon Gymnasium and for parts of the first half it appeared that the Tigers might be capable of putting a blemish on BG’s record, but the Cardinals opened the second half on a 14-0 surge during a 61-56 triumph.

“It was a great high school basketball game,” Bishop Guertin coach Brad Kreick said. “This is exactly why we schedule out-of-state games because it is a great learning experience for our kids. I am really proud of how my kids played. Mercy, from Middletown, Conn., came out quick and got up on us, but we just kept coming.”

The back-and-forth nature of the game made for an exciting atmosphere, as each team finished with five 3-pointers and continuously answered the opposing squad’s run. The Cardinals (10-0) were led by juniors Brianna Wilcox (12 points, one 3-pointer), Aaliyah Forman (12 points, one 3-pointer) and Ava Owens (11 points).

Bishop Guertin was strong on the boards throughout the game, getting numerous second-chance opportunities out of half-court sets, while only giving up one offensive rebound in the first half.

The Tigers, who won the CIAC Class LL State Championship in Connecticut last year, received a game-high 16 points and a trio of 3-pointers from senior guard Kameryn King. Senior floor general Alexia Leon chipped in with 12 points.

The road trip did not hinder Mercy early, as it came out red hot from the floor, building a 19-12 advantage with 1:45 left in the first on a left-baseline three-ball by Leon. The Cardinals cut the deficit down to 19-17 after one as a result of back-to-back layups by junior guard Aria O’Connell.

A left-wing 3 by Leon gave the visitors a 27-21 edge with 5:45 showing in the first half. Bishop Guertin fired back, and Wilcox gave the Cardinals the lead for the first time, as she stole the ball on defense, and then went coast-to-coast to finish a layup, putting her team up 28-27 with 2:20 remaining. The Tigers led 29-28 at halftime.

The game was won in the first 4:45 of the third quarter, as the hosts came out of intermission clicking on all cylinders. During that time frame, Bishop Guertin went on a 14-0 run, as Owens scored six points during the surge and concluded the push on a layup with 3:15 left, extending the lead to 42-29.

“We kept it close in the first half and it was a one-point game at halftime,” Kreick said. “We told them to keep running and it is a four-quarter game. In the third quarter, we went on a spurt because the kids’ legs were fresh. At halftime, we said to stay poise, aggressive, play north and south, catch and face, and try to get to the rim. Once we got to the rim a couple times, we found some open kids and hit some shots, which really opened things up for us.”

A top-of-the-arc trey by junior forward Addison Smith gave Bishop Guertin a 45-31 lead, which was its biggest of the afternoon. Mercy fired right back, closing the third on an 11-3 run, as a left-wing 3 by King with five seconds left trimmed the Cardinals’ lead down to 48-42.

Mercy cut the lead to four in the opening minute of the fourth on a right-baseline jumper by Leon, and then the visitors cut the Cardinals’ cushion down to 53-48 with 3:56 left on two free throws by King. The visitors were not able to get closer than five the rest of the way, and a pair of free throws by Wilcox with 1:10 left put Bishop Guertin in a comfortable position at 60-51.

Kreick thought this was a good measuring stick game for the Cardinals, as it was the first time that they didn't win a game this year by double figures. They'll will host Merrimack on Monday at 7 p.m.

“Mercy is not only a premier program in the state of Connecticut but in New England,” Kreick said. “This was a great test to see where we are at as a program. We did a lot of really good things (Saturday) against a really good opponent. I cannot tell you how proud I am of our kids.”