BY SAPNA PATHAK

After their male counterparts capped off a memorable season with a Class I championship last year, the Lady Pythons are planning – and playing – to be the team that adds another plaque to the Pelham High trophy case.

“With five seniors who know this is the last time, there’s a lot of team leadership,” said Pythons head coach Tim Powers. “Team leadership dictates the team, so every girl is in the mindset she wants to go out on top.
We need to win our last games so we’ll be in good shape for the playoffs.”

Winning their last four games might not be as tough as Powers expects, as Pelham has rattled off three straight wins against teams under .500 and face two more in Con-Val and Hollis/Brookline.

Against Milford on Jan. 23, the Pythons scored 73 points, the highest output of the season. Their 56-20 win over Monadnock on Jan. 26 showed off Pelham’s defense.

Led by seniors Rebecca Greenwood, Kathy DaSilva, Catherine Sullivan, Brianna Caira and Caitlin Sawicki, PHS held Monadnock to one field goal in the first half. Six of Monadnock’s eight first-half points came from the foul line. Pelham continued in the second half, allowing three field goals in the victory.

“Our defense is definitely better, so we’re getting better looks on offense,” said Powers. “It’s a combo of the two; we’re getting more transitioning, more half-court sets and can take the shots we want.”

With its final two games coming against Class I contenders Bow and Coe-Brown, Powers said the timing of his team’s cohesiveness couldn’t be better.

“Now’s the time to get hot,” said Powers. “We finished around .500 last year and lost in the first round, and we want to change that outcome this year. There’s such a logjam near the top [of the Class I standings], these final games are gonna mean the difference between being at home or on the road in the playoffs.”
Pelham hosts Hollis/Brookline on Friday, Feb. 2.