The Westport High School girls basketball team dominated Avon 48-25 in a league home game in front of a sparse crowd on Tuesday evening.

The win improved the Wildcats record to 3-2 in MAC league games and 3-6 overall, while Avon fell to 1-5.

Junior forward Skylar Rezendes scored a game-high 20 points in two quarters of play to lead Westport. Head coach Christian Hutchison emptied the bench in the second and fourth quarters to give his younger Wildcats playing time against the struggling Avon squad.

“It's important to make sure that we rotate players in and out a lot and make sure that some of the players that don't have as much game experience are able to fulfill the role that I foresee them fulfilling, "he said.

Westport led 16-2 after the first quarter and 24-13 at halftime. Sophomore point guard Sophia Rego scored eight points, Emily Sowersby netted seven, Kylie Hazel scored five, Kylie O’Connor scored four and Brooke Crocker added two.

“We are at that point in the season, where we are trying to really emphasize and push the intensity—fully through,” Coach Hutchison said. “I feel that they're getting better with that. I really do, but we have a lot of players that are still developing and that's okay with me.”

Enthusiastic environment

Coach Hutchison and assistant coach Tyler Martin have created a fun and enthusiastic environment this season according to senior co-captain Molly Costa, who came off the bench the last three seasons for former coach Jen Garguilo and is now a starting-five forward.

“I am enjoying the season a lot,” she said. “It’s definitely more fun. I think we all work together really well and we all have skills individually, but we are coming together.”

Costa, Kylie Hazel and Skylar Rezendes are Coach Hutchison’s captains this season. Hazel, the Wildcats’ shooting guard, agreed that the team is starting to gel.

“It’s a new group of girls and we are starting to get into a groove,” she said. “We are getting better and we’re starting to see the progress that we’ve been working towards.”

“It’s a different situation for us this season,” said Rezendes. “We're not led by senior leadership. We are a much younger group. We have a lot of girls playing on varsity for the first time. And then to add to that, a new coach and a different style. So, it's just been an adjustment and I think that's what our record is showing. But we're only graduating one senior. So, we're building this year and developing parts to our game.”

Against Avon, the Wildcats worked on their style of play, both offensively and defensively. Rezendes noted the differences between the Wildcats’ defense this season and last season.

“Defense has always been our strong suit,” she said. “Last year we stuck with a 3-2, but this year we have five different defenses that we rotate between, making it really challenging for our opponent’s offense to adjust to.”

Rezendes also feels that the team has enough talent to compete for the playoffs this season, with players like Rego and Sowersby added to herself, Costa and Hazel.

Rego and Sowersby are both works-in-progress as they got minimal minutes of varsity playing time last season. Both players are beginning to come into their own as full-time starters. Rego, a raw, talented, energetic player, has a ton of potential, Rezendes said.

“She’s a very critical part to our team,” said Rezendes. “She has stepped up as our starting point guard and she’s gaining confidence with more playing time as she gets used to taking on that role.”

Coach Hutchison is looking for his team to turn up the intensity and mental toughness down the stretch.

“In terms of the second half of the season, I think we're going to have a lot of tough, close games. And a lot of mentality-based, who wants it more type games. I'm really trying to push that and see the hard work pay off.”

Next up: The Wildcats travel to Wareham on Thursday, Jan. 15 and host Carver on Thursday, Jan. 22.