With a stout defense and double-figure scoring from underclassmen Sophia Gallivan and Ariana Demetri, North Reading (13-1) heads into the final month of the regular season as a strong contender in the Division 3 field.
North Reading’s strength lies in its stout man-to-man defense. While it may not possess much size, with no players taller than 5-10, its pressure and physicality have frustrated foes. The Hornets have allowed over 40 points just twice with one of those occasions coming in their only loss of the season. They are holding teams to 31 points per game while forcing teams into 26 turnovers a night.
“Our defense has been our calling card,” North Reading coach Bob Romeo said. “It’s not a secret we’re not a high-powered offensive team. But we take a lot of pride on the other end of the floor.”
The most impressive aspect of the teams’ success is it’s driven by a youth movement. After graduating three senior starters, starter Grace Higgins is the lone senior on the roster this time around. Gallivan, a sophomore, is the team’s top overall player, putting up 14 points, eight rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 4.5 steals per night. Gallivan’s classmate, Demetri, adds 12 points a contest.
Junior guard Kiersten Higgins provides key defensive playmaking, often guarding the opposing team’s top ball-handler. Higgins is averaging 3.5 steals. Junior forward Addie Hajj provides rebounding presence.
“We knew that our two sophomores Sophia (Gallivan) and Ariana (Demetri) would be a key part of our core,” Romeo said. “And then we had a bunch of soccer players and athletes. Junior Kiersten Higgens has really stepped up and been the spearhead of our defense. Our defense starts with her, and she is the motor that makes us go.”
The Hornets’ lone defeat of the season came on Jan. 13 against Pentucket. After winning eight straight games to start the season, Romeo was unsure of how his young team would respond to its first defeat. Since then, the Hornets have rattled off five consecutive victories.
“Right after the Pentucket game I was in our gym and I just challenged the girls,” Romeo said. “We won eight in a row, had a setback, but then started another winning streak. We know we will get a rematch with them, and our goal has been to make that game meaningful.”
North Reading has made it so the second matchup with the Panthers will matter for the Cape Ann League title. The two play again in Pentucket on Feb. 10. Before then, the Hornets have a rematch with Newburyport who they narrowly beat, 39-38, on Jan. 7.
“Every game we’re playing for the most part here on out is a rematch, most of them on the road,” Romeo said. “We’re at Malden Catholic, we’re at Newburyport, and we’re at Pentucket. When you go into those gyms you have to have sharper execution. It’s a little bit of a gauntlet for us.”
The last week has seen a handful of milestones for local basketball stars. Cathedral’s Hijah Allen-Paisley scored her 1,000th career point on Tuesday night. Similarly, Duxbury’s Trevor Jones also reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career, securing it on Jan. 24 in a win over Silver Lake. Jones scored 18 points in the win and has led Duxbury to four wins in its last five games.