EASTHAM — All you need to know about the Nauset Regional High School girls basketball team’s heart can be summed up by the reaction to Kendall Faley’s three-pointer at the final buzzer on Monday. The bench exploded in a manner appropriate for a game-winning shot in a championship game, as the players on the floor swarmed to congratulate their junior captain. Her shot made the final score St. John Paul II 55, Nauset 27.
The team’s reaction to Faley’s shot reflected their refusal to give up until time expired. It is a mantra that coaches often preach, but it is the rare team that responds, especially when the deficit is insurmountable and the season is long.
The defeat brought Nauset’s record to 1-13, with their lone victory a thrilling two-point overtime win over Monomoy in the third game of the season. Brynn Kew topped the Warriors with 6 points on Monday, while captain Amari Brace accounted for 5. The Lions’ Devin Crofford led all scorers with 17 points. Her teammate, the wonderfully named Marlo Jumper, added 12.
Nauset won the tip and set up their offense. A pattern was established immediately, featuring relatively lengthy Nauset possessions with impressive ball movement and crisp passing until a random mistake — stepping out of bounds; a shot just off the mark; a tie-up resulting in a jump ball — turned the ball over. Each time the Lions got possession they quickly moved downcourt, set up behind the three-point line, and drained the shot. It was 9-0 less than three minutes in, prompting Nauset Coach Jean Leyton to call her first timeout.
Leyton lost four starters to graduation last season and spends the bulk of her time patiently reinforcing fundamental concepts to her young charges. Observing the coach during the game, one had the impression that if she received a dollar for each in-game instructional snippet and positive comment instead of a salary, she would be a millionaire many times over.
“Since we are a young team, we need to work on the basics,” Leyton said, “and we got some open shots today, which I was happy about.”
Sophomore guard and captain Amari Brace drives to the basket.The team’s youth is a surprise to no one. Nauset Athletic Director John Mattson, team captain Kayla Harris, Lions’ coach Gus Adams, and Leyton all brought it up before the question was raised. One senses that if the team were casually mentioned during a traffic stop, the officer would comment on their youth as she was writing the ticket. But in this instance, youth is a fact, not an excuse. There are no excuses to be found around these Warriors, only optimism.
The Lions were clearly more highly skilled, but Nauset matched them in grit and persistence. They refused to stand down when no one would blame them if they had. Nauset lost to the Lions by 40 points in January, and there was little reason to think this contest would be different. Down by 16 at the half, they had more reasons to quit than a casual player spotting Michael Jordan 20 points in a game of 21, yet they pressed on.
“You can’t dread on the past,” said Harris before the game. “We are all about focusing on the positive.” Harris, a junior from Brewster, has been playing since fourth grade. She sees playing time but usually not until the outcome has been settled. Her role is chief morale builder, and she seems to be an all-star in that position.
“I always try to cheer on the bench and help collaborate off the court,” she said, with teammate Makayla Kasakoff standing beside her nodding in agreement. Harris listed various team functions that contributed to their bonding. The latest is an upcoming trip to Connecticut to cheer on former teammate Jordyn Streitmatter, now playing for Mitchell College.
St. John Paul Coach Adams was gracious in victory. “Nauset has improved,” he said. “Jean has done a good job with her girls. She is a class act, and her teams play hard and conduct themselves well.”
At least twice, a Lions player drove the lane only to be knocked to the floor by a clean but hard foul. Each time, three Warriors quickly moved to help her up. The positive results, in the form of consistent scoring, are still in the mail, but the sportsmanship, like the effort and enthusiasm, has already arrived.
Jaz Rivas played defense like a mobile brick wall, with all the effectiveness that term implies. Coach Leyton was pleased.
“Focusing on our defense helps bring the girls into our offense, and I was happy that we seemed to have better ball movement in some instances,” she said.
Brace was a commanding presence at guard, several times dishing out crowd-pleasing assists to Rivas or Kew. For those of you scoring at home, that is a sophomore captain feeding two freshmen.
One thing about youth is the young get older, wiser, and more experienced. In time, the results follow. Based on what was displayed on Monday evening in Eastham, that time might come sooner than people expect.
