NRHS Girls Bball Brings in a Win

Winning isn't everything. But after the Nashoba girls basketball team got its first win of the season last week, first-year head coach Gary Kozloski had to admit it felt pretty darned good.

“It was great,” Kozloski said of the 39-31 victory over league rival Quabbin on Jan. 8. “It was especially nice for me because the girls did everything they were supposed to. They ran the break, and were patient on offense. They didn't force shots. They attacked on defense. Everything I'd been preaching for the last month happened on Tuesday night.”

A strong rebounding effort by the 106 Chieftains was led by junior Rebecca Krantz of Stow, who finished with 10 boards to go with 6 points. Senior co-captain Hannah Pirez and junior Kelly Macko added 7 rebounds apiece. Offensively, Pirez was the leading Nashoba scorer with 9 points; Krantz, Macko, and junior Jen Harding each finished with 6 points.

The thrill of victory was short-lived, however, as the Chieftains were outmanned against Milford 58-38 on Friday night in just the second away game the team has played this season. Pirez led Nashoba with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

And although Nashoba is currently a respectable 1-1 in league play, the matchups won't get easier any time soon. Last night the Chieftains were scheduled to visit 7-0 Westboro, with a trip to 6-3 Groton-Dunstable on tap for Friday night. The next home game is Jan. 22 against 3-5 Marlboro.

Kozloski knows his team may not be able to keep pace with the region's elite teams. But he's also confident enough to have advised the Chieftains not to make too much of their first victory.

“I told them to act like they've been there before,” he said, “because there'll be other games we'll win this year.”