Gamberoni's Defense Shines as Lenox Girls Go to 3-0
LENOX, Mass. -- There were a few things that Lenox girls basketball coach Mike Nykorchuck did not like when he looked at the stat sheet from Friday’s 47-26 win over Putnam.
But there was one statistic that really tickled him.
“Nicole [Gamberoni] had 20 deflections,” Nykorchuck beamed as the last of the crowd filtered out of the Lenox Memorial gymnasium. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”
Not that he would not believe that kind of performance from his sophomore guard.
“Nicole Gamberoni is probably the best on-ball defender I’ve ever coached,” he said. “She dominates the game with her on-ball defense as much as anyone I’ve ever coached. I’ve had some good ones at McCann, but Nicole really creates a lot of turnovers.
“It’s not uncommon for NIkki to have between six and eight steals and 10 deflections. Her hands are all over the place. … We go to our half-court trap, and I can’t corral her. I just let her go, and she creates turnovers.”
A lot of those turnovers turned into open looks on the other end in the first half on Friday night as the Millionaires (3-0) jumped out to a 16-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The lead could have been even bigger if not for Lenox’s struggles shooting -- both on the perimeter and at the foul line, where they went 4-for-16 on the night.
“We moved the ball really well, particularly in the first half,” Nykorchuck said. “I was disappointed in our shooting. It was definitely our worst shooting night of the year. … We’re a good foul-shooting team, and for whatever reason, I think they had it in their heads tonight. If we shoot foul shots like we normally do, it’s a really good win.
“We didn’t shoot well, and it’s always nice not to shoot well and win easily against a team that made the tournament last year with all their starters back. I think that says a lot about the defense. I think that says a lot about the intensity that they had tonight. I think it says a lot about how this team is really starting to jell as a team.”
Jackie Hathaway scored a game-high 15 points, and Alice Najimy added 12 as Lenox won with its lowest point total so far this season.
The pair both came out strong driving to the basket in the first quarter, accounting for all 13 points in a 13-3 period.
Lenox was up by 15 at half-time, but the Beavers (0-2) managed to outscore the hosts by one in the third quarter to stay within arm’s length, 35-21, going to the fourth.
Mollie Herrick set up Najimy for a 3-pointer to start the fourth, and Herrick hit a triple of her own two possessions later to push the lead to 41-23.
Herrick was then fouled shooting a 3 and hit two of her free throws to cap an 8-2 run and push the lead to 20 points.
Lenox hosts Hoosac Valley and Taconic next week.
“We wanted to start the season 3-0, and we thought we had three winnable games,” Nykorchuck said. “They weren’t ‘gimme’ games by any means. But we went out and took care of business. Now, it really kicks into high gear with Hoosac, Taconic and the South County Tournament.
“But you know what? We’re ready for it.”