Junior forward Lily Pichette scored 23 points as the Westport High School girls basketball team ran over Bishop Connolly 58-21 in a MAC league game on Wednesday night. The team also beat Bishop Connolly, 66-24, during a home game on Friday. The Wildcats have now won five straight after dropping their first two games of the season. 

On Wedneday, Bishop Connolly had no answer for Pichette as the tall, athletic forward scored most of her points from underneath the basket.

"Lily was immense," said Wildcats head coach Michael Ponte. "Lily runs like a deer, finishes at the rim, rebounds and blocks shots. She's a special player. Her size and athleticism are unmatched on the court."

That was the case on Wednesday night. The swift forward at times grabbed a rebound and drove the length of the court for a layup. She was a rebounding monster at both ends of the court. She scored on put backs too. But most times Pichette was automatic as teammates dished passes to her underneath and she hit layup after layup.

Joining Pichette on forward is senior Jessica Carney, a six year player for the Wildcats. Carney scored 6 points and was strong on defense and under the hoop.

"Jessica is the ultimate Wildcat," said coach Ponte. "She has been the team's captain for a number of years. She's been part of more wins than any player in school history and holds records for steals and rebounds. She's the consummate leader."

Next Wednesday the team is honoring Carney as they hold their senior night, deemed, "Jessica night," on Wednesday Feb. 10th before their game against Holbrook.

"We plan on making that a special night for her," coach Ponte said. Residents can see senior night festivities as well as boys and girls basketball home games via the Westport Community TV Streaming Channel.

The Wildcats held only a slight 13-7 edge after the first quarter last Wednesday, until sophomore point guard Leah Sylvain got unleashed. If Bishop Connolly had any dreams about getting back into the game, they were stymied when Sylvain drained a three and then proceeded to hit two more jumpers, scoring all of her 7 points in the same quarter. The lead exploded to 36-12 at halftime as Pichette added 8 of her 23 in the second quarter as well. As good as Sylvain is offensively, coach Ponte lauded her defensive skills.

"Leah is a good defensive player," he said. "Together with Korinne Holden, they are starting to pick up their defensive intensity and make it tough on the other team's guards."

Coach Ponte traveled with seven players to Bishop Connolly, as assistant coach Jen Gargiulo needed the rest of the squad for a JV game.

"I can't say enough about my assistant," Coach Ponte said of Garguilo. "Her basketball knowledge is unprecedented. She's great with morale on the team and knows how the girls are feeling."

Junior center Sarah Carney scored 4 points, helped with rebounding and played well defensively. Junior guard Abby Silvia netted 4 and spelled both Sylvain and Holden. Freshman guard Sarah Perry subbed in as well and knocked down a free throw. Westport was up 53-21 after three quarters. Sylvain and Pichette both had extended breaks in the second half.

The Wildcats defensive scheme is a half-court trap that Coach Ponte calls, "Wolverine." "We've been running it since I've been here for six years," coach Ponte said. "It's our bread and butter defense. We get a lot of turnovers off it and we'll run it until it doesn't work anymore."

The last two seasons, the Wildcats have also used a full court press to induce steals and score quick, easy baskets. A style that fit the Wildcats quick and stealthy guards. But due to Covid-19, and the fact that the team hadn't seen a basketball in months, the team has turned towards a more half-court style of play.

When Covid struck, "we were telling kids not to go outside. Don't play basketball. Some towns took the rims off of their hoops," coach Ponte said. "We knew that it was going to be tough. We wanted the girls to play, be around their friends, play in competition and have a sense of pride that comes with hard work."

And about the full court press,"Don't worry," Coach Ponte said, "It's not gone. It'll be back."

"I'm very proud of them," said coach Ponte. "They are a wonderful, hard working group that is only going to get better."

That's bad news for their competition.