Defense wins the day as New London girls smother Waterford in 61-21 victory
Waterford — Rosi Nicholson, senior captain, a perpetual smile on her face, is one of the most affable members of the New London High School girls' basketball team ... until the game is on the line.
"She's one of the best defenders in the state," New London coach Holly Misto said. "People look at offensive stuff quite a bit, but she's one of the best defenders. (Defense) gets 'em going. It increases intensity. They know if they play good defense there's going to be a reward at the end."
It was Nicholson at the center of a 19-0 run for the unbeaten Whalers in the second quarter of Tuesday night's 61-21 non-divisional victory over Waterford. New London (13-0), the second-ranked team in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register top 10, trailed 6-0 and led just 13-11 after one quarter.
But Nicholson, who earlier had a blocked shot just seven seconds into the game and a tipped pass eight seconds in, spent the second quarter seemingly flying up and down the floor with the ball, finishing with 10 points in the quarter as the Whalers opened a 34-13 lead.
Nicholson started the second quarter with two straight steals that she turned into layups, which was followed by a lob pass from Spencer Roman to Tai Pagan and a three-point play by Roman. Those nine points came in the first 2:41 of the quarter, as New London got things rolling.
Waterford scored its only points of the quarter on an offensive rebound by Marilyn Childs with 16 seconds remaining and managed just 10 points in all after the first quarter, as New London's full-court pressure, a mix between man-to-man and zone, thwarted the Lancers (7-7).
Pagan led the offense with 25 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and four blocks and Nicholson had 17 points, seven steals, six rebounds and three blocks. Roman had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists and Cora Sawyer six assists, five steals and four rebounds on a night the Whalers played with a short bench due to illnesses and injuries, with Misto calling it a true team win.
Childs had nine points for Waterford and Julianna Bonilla seven.
"I felt it," said Nicholson of the all-out pace. "... A big lead is usually off of our defense. Once we start, we're like, 'Let's get another one, let's get another one.' In the beginning, we weren't able to produce any points; once we scored, we were able to go into our press. Then it's like, 'OK, we got it.'
"We rely on each other. We knew we could get the ball to whoever is open. (The press) is just so effective."
The Whalers have now given up 17 points combined in the second halves of the last two games, nine against Norwich Free Academy on Friday and eight vs. Waterford. New London, which ran its winning streak to 21 straight games dating back to last season, including the 2017 Class LL state championship, next plays at home against Bacon Academy on Friday.
"I'm having fun. I hope they're having fun," Misto said of the defense, which finished with 23 steals.
"Coach was right," Nicholson said. "We were going through midterms (two weeks ago). We didn't have a schedule. For me, I was tired. We were coming out of a midterm and going to practice. Now we're back in the swing of things."
v.fulkerson@theday.com
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