BERLIN — One big formula to success in any sport is displaying tough defense. The Berlin Redcoats girls basketball team showed that in its Thursday evening win against the Newington Nor’Easters.
Traveling a few miles up the Berlin Turnpike to face Newington, Berlin earned a win led by its defense, beating Newington 33-24. The 24 points scored by Newington was a season-low.
Tied 2-2 in the opening minutes, Berlin used a 12-0 run in the final 5:04 of the quarter to go up 14-2 entering the second. Brooke Walker and Ava Gombotz each had four points for Berlin as Alyssa Walker and Sienna Finley each hit a three.
“It was a good feeling finally [to start fast],” said Berlin coach Sheila King. “I was proud of the girls. We’ve had a rough season, and they’re sticking in there, and to come out and do that was a credit to them. It was a good feeling for them, and I had a good feeling for them coming into tonight’s game.”
Newington broke Berlin’s run right when the strike quarter began, getting a pair of foul shots from Juju Flores, who scored the like bucket in the first quarter. Berlin would score the next four points, getting a pair of foul shots and a layup from Katie Litwinko to go up 18-4 with 3:00 left in the half.
Each team traded baskets in the final minute of the half for Berlin to take a 20-6 halftime lead. Brooke Walker had a team-high six points at the break as Flores scored four of Newington’s six points.
Newington put together some scoring in the third, outscoring Berlin 12-5 to get within seven points.
Both teams exchanged three pointers for the first two baskets of the third, with Alyssa Walker and Gabby Cultera each hitting from long range. Litwinko scored for Berlin and then the Nor’Easters got another three by Cultera plus a jumper from Flores to trail 25-18 heading into the fourth.
A basket by Brooke Walker to start the fourth put Berlin back up by nine. Newington responded with a three from Maggie Krusewksi, who got Newington within six points. Walker would score again by way of a jumper and Litwinko added a point from the foul line.
Newington once again got within six points, getting a three from Kiara Rossi. Holding a 30-24 lead with just over a minute left, the Redcoats went to the foul line a few times, and got three more points to secure a 33-24 win.
In the win, Brooke Walker had a team-high nine points as Flores had a team-high eight points for Newington.
Up next for Newington (7-9) is the No. 1 team in the state in Northwest Catholic (16-1 prior to Friday’s game vs. Bristol Central) on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at home. Berlin (7-10) hosts No. 2 ranked New Britain (16-1) Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m.
Heading into its Saturday morning game against one of the top teams in the state, King notes that it’s a good feeling entering the game with some momentum, and hopes the team carries onto it with three regular season games left.
“We need it, we need this momentum,” said King following the team’s first win streak since December. “We’re gonna ride it as long as we can, and keep working. Hopefully, it boosts us.”
