High School Basketball: Minutemaids Prove Themselves against Paul VI Saturday, January 6, 2007 By Joyce Sagerty SJSports Special Correspondent Basketball is one of those sports that you can't let your emotions get the best of you. It's a quote you may or may not have heard, but when watching a basketball game the meaning becomes clear. The Washington Township Minutemaids were the underdogs at home against a very good Paul VI squad who has demonstrated their ability to score both inside and outside the three point arch. The Minutemaids would use their emotions to their advantage against the Lady Eagles overcoming an early deficit. Teamwork and a determined Allie Bassetti allowed Washington Township to stay one step ahead of their opponent and come away with an exciting 53-48 win at home. Players feel it all the time when competing against another player or even a team. They get all psyched up for a game using that feeling to play at a higher level than usual. The trick is to not get too overconfident because of those emotions. Bassetti demonstrated that ability on the court throughout Township's Olympic Conference match up against the taller front court of the Eagles. Meg Harker stands at least six foot one and can dominate the point both offensively and on defense. Once Harker gains position inside the paint, she can calmly work her way for the easy basket. But Bassetti used her ability to hit the outside shot or drive hard to the basket for the lay up. The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead with Harker getting one of those baskets. Township would finally get their first basket of the game when Shawna Wert drained a three pointer setting the tone for the rest of the quarter. Pulling ahead 8-7 just under three minutes remaining, the Minutemaids went on a 7-2 run and led by six to end the quarter. Wert was not done as she connected on a total of three three-pointers during the first half. Township would maintain their lead and held a 26-20 advantage at the break. Paul VI began to cut into their deficit and Meg Montchyk helped by aggressively attack the basket. The Lady Eagles would end the third quarter trailing by three, 42-39, and continued to stay close to tying this game up until the final minutes. Kate Montgomery’s basket with 3:25 remaining in the game gave the Minutemaids a 46-41 lead but the Eagles would battle back and trailed only by a 50-48 margin. That was until Bassetti stole a pass and her lay up all but sealed the game for the home team. Allie Bassetti finished the game with a team high 15 points while Shawna Wert added 13 points for Washington Township. Meg Harker’s 17 points led all scorers and Meg Montchyk scored 12 points for the Lady Eagles from Paul VI. Photos by Art Redd