QUINCY — The undefeated Quincy High School women’s basketball team completed a double-double for Alyssa Hopps in a 54-41 victory over Marshfield on Tuesday night.
Hopps finished with 12 rebounds and 15 points, 10 of which he scored in the fourth quarter. It’s what drove her team.
“It feels good. I didn’t know I did a double-double,” Hopps said.
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Quincy head coach Sarah Conlon said, “She’s got a lot of attention in the sense that the defense knows her well.” She’s one of our loudest voices.”
For Hopps, she is a paint bully and finishes around the rim. Whether it’s her soft touch around the glass or her ability to knock down free throws, it’s her time in the gym in the summer that has made her shine this winter.
“I just went to the gym,” Hopps said. “I remember coming in a lot during the summer and in August and July when the gym was closed and just shooting around. But I wouldn’t be here without my teammates.”
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Tuesday’s winning final score didn’t tell the whole story. The Patriot League game was close all the way through. Quincy held a slight lead at halftime (21-20), but the fourth quarter was when Quincy really started to take the lead.
“I think my teammates work hard and always want to push the ball,” Hopps said. “And finally, when Lena[Waldron]and Paige[Mann]were running, I think they were ready for the outlet. The energy on the bench was crazy.”
Quincy senior captain and forward Caroline Tracy played point forward. She recorded her 9 points and her 7 rebounds and helped get her ball on the court.
“Caroline is a rebounding machine,” Conlon said. “She doesn’t always get the credit for what she does, but she does everything we need when we need her. She can play positions two to five.”
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Starting point guard and senior captain Lena Waldron (14 points) missed the second quarter due to foul trouble. After that, it was up to the other guards to control the pace. And with Marshfield switching to the trapping zone in every basket made, her control of the ball played a big role for Quincy.
“I think all our wins are team wins, so we’re just working as a team,” Tracy said. “Paige Mann, Caroline Campbell, Taylor Mann and Liliana Cattrambone have really stepped up.”
The third quarter consisted of three major changes. But the President remained strong going into the fourth quarter with his 31-28 lead. A late adjustment put Quincy on top.
“I think we were helping each other, especially when we were leading at one point,” Hopps said. “And I think we got ourselves together at the end of the third.”
For Marshfield, they suffered their first loss of the season. Their top scorers were from all three of his senior captains: Taylor Brilliant (14), Ally Ferris (8) and Sadie Elwood (5). A road game against another tough opponent will always show the ball his club’s strengths and weaknesses.
Marshfield head coach Steve Weissgerber said, “We have a lot of work to do as a team. We are happy with where we are as a group, but we need to see some aspects of the game. I have.”
