WINDSOR, Conn. – Elyse MacDonough laid on the hardwood, struggling to get to her feet.
The senior guard had endured relentless contact for the better part of three quarters. And this latest hit entailed a blow to her head.
After medical attention, she went to the bench battered. A bruise would show in the end, but she hadn’t been beaten
“At that point, I was just looking at the score, looking at the time, and I was like, ‘I need to get back in there and help my team’,” MacDonough said. “I wasn't even thinking about my injury.”
Rallying twice to earn its triumph, No. 2 Worcester Academy (23-10) held off No. 5 Darrow (20-10), 59-57, Sunday night in the NEPSAC Class AA championship, staged at Loomis Chaffee School.
MORE NEPSAC TITLES: AAA — Tilton | A — Loomis Chaffee | B — Rivers
MacDonough – submitting a game-high 15 points – would return to the court for the stretch run, ultimately watching her opponent miss a shot that would have forced overtime, which allowed her to partake in the celebration.
“It was kind of scary watching them shoot that last shot. I thought maybe they would call a foul,” said the St. Bonaventure commit. “But once those seconds were winding down, I knew we had it.”
Fight was required to secure the moment. The Hilltoppers trailed 21-8 early in the second quarter, falling behind thanks to a 13-2 run by the Ducks that featured senior guards Amanda Smith and Maddie Pepra-Omani getting to the rim.
Tight defense at the perimeter had forced MacDonough to table her 3-point calling card – resorting to the paint – but her and-1 layup spurred the turnaround. She would make multiple trips to the charity stripe, and got support in the form of opportune 3s from her teammates.
They had a 27-27 tie to show for it heading into the break.
“It’s a solution-oriented team. We have problem-solvers, we don't have excuse-makers,” said coach Dan Sullivan. “We don't have people who like to point out problems and not offer solutions.”
But then Worcester Academy fell down again. It trailed by as much as seven midway through the fourth frame, as Pepra-Omani – finishing with a team-high 13 points – spearheaded another Darrow surge.
Missing MacDonough until the final minutes, the Hilltoppers got critical contributions from senior guard Saige Youngberg, sophomore guard Gracyn Barnes and junior forward Ella Getz. It was 56-56 with just under three minutes to go.
Then Barnes sank a midrange jumper. To follow, she made one of two free throws. And with MacDonough back in the fold, disciplined defense in the final seconds proved to be just enough.
“We've been in situations like today where we've been down almost 20 and had to climb back,” MacDonough said. “And it's just that fight we have in us.”
