Junior guard Kari Lavalette sparked the Hornets with a 12-point 3rd quarter to lift Essex over St. Johnsbury 41-33 in girls basketball Thursday night. With the win, the Hornets improve to 6-0 on the season while St. Johnsbury drops to 2-3.
In the first quarter, St. Johnsbury controlled play until Essex freshman Macie Bessette launched a three to push Essex up by one. The Hilltoppers came out strong in the second quarter as they collected contributions from Allison Brown, Isabell Meinhart, Allyson Bruckner and Casey Carbone–helping St. Johnsbury build a 22-17 halftime lead. Meinhart launched a last second half-court buzzer-beater to push the lead to five.
The Hornets’ slow start built a small deficit, but it didn’t last long.
“In the first half, we definitely didn’t do what we knew we could do. We weren’t boxing out, we weren’t playing as good of defense as we know we can. (In the) second half, we really focused on boxing out and doing what we could; controlling what we can,” said Lavalette.
Essex responded early and often in the third, as Lavalette dropped three treys, including a half-court buzzer beater of her own to end the third. Essex outscored St. Johnsbury 16-4 in the third to help build a seven point lead going into the fourth.
The Hornets scored eight points in the final period, while the Hilltoppers scored seven.
Essex forward Isey Esposito reached double-digit points scoring ten, while also gathering seven boards. Lavalette wrapped up with 19 points, five boards and three assists. St. Johnsbury was lead by Meinhart and Brucker who scored 11 and 10 points respectively.
St. Johnsbury is one of four teams that Essex as limited less than 40 points in a contest this season. Lavalette believes that in order for Essex to be successful, they’re going to have to play defense.
“We need to keep the good work up on defense cause that’s what we really focus on and that’s really what wins games.”
The Hornets return to action next Monday when they host South Burlington while the Hilltoppers play Saturday at Rutland.
Way to go Essex!!! Keep on fighting!