Belmont Girls Fall One Game Short Of Post Season

Lara Tcherkezian just let her emotions out last night after Girls’ Basketball team failed to hold onto a third quarter lead and lost to host Watertown High Red Raiders, 49-41, and ended their season, one game short of making the post season.

The tears of frustration were mixed with the sadness that senior players have after playing their final game. And it was especially hard for Tcherkezian who led all Belmont scorers with 16 points, each one in the paint or after being fouled underneath the hoop.

Watertown’s assistant coach Matt Ryan and head coach Patrick Ferdinand (who has known her since fourth grade at the Waltham YMCA’s basketball program) comforted Tcherkezian with a hug and praise for the Marauders’ center/forward who nearly put the team on her back and into the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, after defeating Melrose, 57-41, Belmont needed a single victory in their final three games. They played well against a two-loss Stoneham and had high hopes in the final week of the season.

But before their final home game against Lexington, with 10 seconds left in the pregame warm up, sophomore standout Olivia Lyons turned her ankle that left the Marauders’ go-to scoring threat and rebounder in a protective boot.

Without Lyons’ intensity on the court, the Marauders lost a fourth quarter lead and fell to the Minutemen 45-39.

With their season down to a single game to make the playoffs, Belmont head coach Melissa Hart had hopes that the team could rally behind the need to win against their natural rival, neighboring Watertown.

Watertown on the move

But despite their overall record, Watertown had gone 4-6 since Jan. 21 and played more competitive games in the second half of the season under first-year coach Ferdinand. 

The night’s game was one of point guards: Belmont’s senior leadership from Jenna DiSalvio (8 points) and Watertown’s freshman spark plug Gabriella Coppola (a game high 20 points). And it was Coppola who directed the Red Raiders to an early 11-5 lead with Ashley Curtin-MacGregor (11 points including three-three pointers) hitting the first of her specialty three-point bombs.

Belmont came back with a pair from Tcherkezian and a bucket from senior assistant captain Reed Ellis (3 points) before DiSalvio hit a lay up at the buzzer for a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter nearly saw Belmont run away with the game as Kate Zolner (12 points) and front court mate Tcherkezian brought the lead to 8, 21-13. But missed free throws and Coppola’s free throws (she scored all nine of her first half points from the line) and passing to senior big man Kerry Morris (4 points) under the basket saw Belmont’s the half time lead cut to 23-21, scoring only 2 points in the final four minutes of the quarter.

Marauders come up short

The third quarter was sloppy and intense as Belmont got all 9 points from inside or the foul line while Watertown’s Coppola began scoring on court long drives, with the teams tied up at 32 with the final eight minutes to play.

But a quick two from Coppola, a three pointer from red sneaker-wearing Curtin–MacGregor and senior Jacqui Tresca’s own three bomb (7 points) seconds later shot the lead up to 40-32 with 6:30 left in the game effectively ending any Belmont comeback.

Belmont did cut a 10 point lead to five with 1:02 left but Watertown’s Michelle Poirier’s (5 points) two free throws ended Belmont’s season.

“I think Head Coach Melissa Hart has done an amazing job in her first year there. The team last night fought hard the entire way and showed toughness and class. The program graduated a great group of seniors, of which some of them I got a chance to watch grow up,” said Watertown’s Ferdinand, who also knows DiSalvio and Kara Fischer.

Hart said that after the game, “how can you not feel disappointed when you have three games and you only needed to win one,” said Hart.

Hart said that the loss of Lyons, who brings an intensity to practice and games, affected her teammates who missed the on the floor leadership.

“We have a great young bunch of players. We played five sophomores at times this year, but they just haven’t been through the fire of must wins like our seniors. Maybe this game will be something they can take with them into next year,” said Hart.

And next year’s teaching began after the game as Hart sat with sophomore Katie Leinbach in a quiet part of the gym, talking about jump shots and when to take them.