Freshman Lydia Kastor scored team-high 10 points and hit a key free throw in overtime to lead Berkshire to a 50-48 win over visiting Newbury on Wednesday.
With the win, the Badgers improved to 2-0 on the year.
“Newbury played a great game,” first-year Berkshire coach James Bosley said. “They have some experienced players that wouldn’t give up. We were able to rotate, I think, nine girls consistently and tried to keep the pressure on them.”
Berkshire led 21-20 at halftime and 32-27 after three quarters but Haley Hamilton scored seven of her game-high 18 points to help Newbury outscored the Badgers in the fourth quarter, 16-11, and hit a buzzer-beater to force overtime.
Madison Chapman, who finished with six points and five rebounds, hit two buckets in overtime to key the Berkshire win. Kastor hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter and also had the key free throw late in the extra period to seal the win.
Grace Lillibridge added nine points for the Badgers, despite missing a stretch of time with an injury.
Courtney Czekaj added seven points for the Badgers and Alyssa Schafer finished with six. Mollee Chapman and Lexi Boyk each contributed four points and Shaelin DeLong and Kayla Dingman both scored two. DGreLong led the Badgers with seven rebounds and tied Boyk, who pulled down five boards, with a team-high three steals.
“I am really excited for these girls,” Bosley said. “They have been working hard every day and they are competing with each other in practice, so today when Chapman and (Lexi) Boyk both fouled out it was other girls that stepped up and made plays.”
Mackenzie Grubbs and Hannah Grubbs both finished with 11 points for Newbury.
Berkshire hosts Bristol on Saturday.
“These girls are so fun to coach because they are so willing to learn,” Bosley said. ‘They have made it easy for me so far as a first year head coach. Even though these first two games have been close, it has me really excited for the season ahead.”
