Sports

Lady Dukes Move Forward To Regionals for the First Time In Nearly Two Decades

Senior Night Win Over Warwick Allows Them To Compete

Dispatch Staff

On February 18th, the Gloucester Lady Dukes Basketball Team moved forward to regionals after defeating Warwick at home 53-26.

The game was the team’s senior night, where the seniors on the team are celebrated for their accomplishments throughout their high school careers. Each person in the audience came out with the school’s colors, and the stands were filled with energy.

The team was also excited. Senior shooting guard Kenna Keyes stated, “It was a very well played game. There was great intensity and energy throughout the whole game. We just let loose and had fun and we came out with a win.”

The Lady Dukes would go on to take the win by 27 points. The top scoring players that night were Kenna Keyes, scoring 13 points, Lauren Hall with 10 points, and Maria Lisi with eight points. Senior Forwards Kylie Fisk and Cody Brown provided skill on rebounding. The team moved to 10-12 on the season, qualifying them for regionals.

As described by Keyes, the team is very close to one another, playing beside one another since middle school. She says that the chemistry of the team is what brought them to success. Before games, she says they have a tradition of talking before the game. Coach Amy O'Neill gives them a rundown of their opponent, telling them of the players on the team and their skill. Then, before they go out to play, they all put their hands together and yell “Family!” Keyes stated that over her years on the team she has grown as a person. Beforehand, she was scared to shoot the ball at all. However, the team has helped her come out of her shell. She describes the team as a family, and they have a certain chemistry which helps them get where they are.

The first round of regionals Bethel was hard fought and sadly lost on Feb 21st. Following the event, Head coach Amy O’Neil shared on a social media post, “We played an amazing first half, then came out shell-shocked in the second. We are not defined by the second half, we are defined by the blood, sweat, and tears it has taken to put Gloucester girls’ basketball back on the map and being a threat in the Peninsula District.” Top scorers in the regionals game included Lauren Hall with 10 points and Maria Lisi with 11 points. The final score against the Bethel Bruins was 75-43. Bethel went on to lose 21-68 against Norview High School and did not advance to finals.

Our Lady Dukes, the team had a rewarding, hard-fought season which will be remembered in the history of our school.