Schools

Belmont High Girls' Take Holiday Hoops Tourney

Seniors lead the way as Marauders unwind the Clockers.

The Girls' Basketball team will be bringing silverware back to Belmont High School for the New Year as the Marauders were crowned champions of the annual Ashland Holiday Tournament on Friday night, Dec 28.

Belmont (5-1) took the title inching by host Ashland High School in the championship game, 55-54, after trailing by a dozen midway through the third quarter. 

Belmont's defense, stellar all year, took over the game at that point with senior stalwart Olivia Lyons controlling the game under the basket as fellow senior Amari Bradshaw harassed the play makers for the Clockers (Ashland was once a center for watchmaking).

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In an eight minute stretch between the third and fourth quarter, Belmont outscored Ashland 22 to 10 with Bradshaw tying the score at 48 with four minutes to play. 

Belmont finally took the lead with the last points of the game on a Lyons running layup with about 40 seconds remaining. Then something occurred to the Clockers which has haunted the Marauders for the past two years: missed free throws as Ashland blew a pair of one-and-ones allowing Belmont to take home the crown. 

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The day before, Dec. 27, the Marauders beat Hopedale High, 46-32, as Lyons scored half of Belmont's points and hauled in 17 rebounds as the senior forward came away with her fifth double-double (more than 10 points and 10 rebounds) in six games.

Belmont next plays at Arlington (1-2) on Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.


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