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01/11/2019 11:00 PMThe Guilford girls’ basketball team may be a little short on numbers and senior experience this season, but the Indians have been playing with heart and hustle on a daily basis, and they’re starting to see the fruits of their labor translate to victories.
Last year, Head Coach Bob Welsh’s squad finished with 11 wins while qualifying for both the Southern Connecticut Conference and Class L State tournaments. This winter, the Indians have just 22 players in their entire program with just one senior on the varsity roster. Guilford got out to a slow start by losing its first three games, but has since won four of five, including a come-from-behind 40-37 victory over Shelton in its SCC Quinnipiac Division opener on Jan. 8. The Indians followed that up by defeating Career 40-27 the following night, after which they notched their third straight victory with a 51-39 win versus divisional opponent Sacred Heart Academy on Jan. 11. Welsh’s club now stands with an overall mark of 4-4 to go with a 2-0 record in Quinnipiac action.
“We are a young team and lean on the numbers this year with 22 kids in the program,” Coach Welsh said. “We have 12 freshmen, two juniors, and a senior. We have three of those freshmen on the varsity team. We grabbed a big win against Shelton. Of course, our goal is to get to the postseason with those eight wins.”
Fresh off winning SCC and state titles with the field hockey team, senior forward Janie Danaher is serving as the lone captain for Guilford girls’ hoops this year. While Danaher is proving a great leader, Welsh said that she also provides a great presence in the paint and is developing a sharp shot from the field.
“This is Janie’s fourth year on varsity, so she knows me well, and I know her well. She has the respect of the kids,” said Welsh. “She gets rebounds, and we are trying to encourage her to shoot more. She’s done a nice job so far as captain.”
In the junior class, Sam Leiby leads the Indians’ offense as their point guard and is averaging nine points per game thus far this season. Fellow junior Elle Petra is a formidable forward for Guilford.
“Sam is our quarterback on offense. She knows the game well, and we look for good things from her,” Coach Welsh said. “Elle can run the floor. She can run end to end as well as anyone. She has a lot of potential.”
Sophomore guard Moira Kellaher adds to the depth to the Indians’ backcourt. Freshmen forward Faith O’Donnell and freshman guard Mia Diaz are two rising rookies who serve as evidence that Guilford has a bright future ahead.
“Moira might be our toughest defender. She’s a scrappy kid who is smart with great hands,” Welsh said. “Faith runs the floor nice and has a shooting touch. Mia is a swing guard and excellent defensive player with a strong shooting stroke. We have a promising freshmen class.”
Petra led the way by scoring 17 points when the Indians rallied for their 40-37 victory versus Shelton. Petra shot 6-of-8 from the field in the second half, including seven straight points, to help Guilford overcome a six-point deficit in the game’s last four minutes. Petra picked up her fourth foul early in the final quarter and then sat out for a few minutes. With the Indians trailing 36-30, Petra came back in with 4:19 to play and then scored the next seven points to give them a 37-36 lead. O’Donnell followed by hitting two key free throws, and Leiby made another to close out the three-point win. Petra added 11 rebounds and five steals for Guilford. Danaher grabbed eight rebounds, while Kellaher snagged six steals in the pivotal victory.
Petra netted 11 points in Guilford’s 40-27 win against Career. Leiby scored 10 points on the strength of a huge second half, and Kellaher chipped in with nine points. Kellaher sparked the Indians’ defense to help them jump out to a 12-0 lead to start the game. Career battled back to close the margin to three at halftime, but Leiby made a couple of 3-pointers in the second half to give the Indians some distance. Freshman Allie Petonito scored her first varsity points by hitting a three to help Guilford solidify the victory.
Danaher poured in 16 points, including 10 during the second quarter, when the Indians defeated Sacred Heart Academy 51-39. She also snared nine boards. Leiby scored 11 points, while Petra scored 10 points to complement her team-high 12 rebounds. Freshman Lauren Cunneen came off the bench to score five points, marking her first points as a member of the varsity squad.
As his team dives into the second half of its season, Coach Welsh looks forward to keep seeing his players give a gritty effort every time they hit the floor. It can be a challenge for any team to qualify for the playoffs while dealing with a difficult SCC schedule, but Welsh feels confident that the Indians have what it takes to make it.
“These girls are working hard, and it’s a pleasure to coach them,” said Welsh. “They are 20 minutes early to practice often. They understand they need to get better and shoot the ball. They are a smart group and look to win the games that are winnable. We have a tough schedule in the SCC, and we can get to eight or 10 wins. It’s a daunting schedule, but if we take care of business, we can get to states.”
From the Sidelines
This is Bob Welsh’s ninth season as head coach of the Guilford girls’ basketball team.
Alphonse Balzano serving as the Indians’ JV coach this year. Nicole Acera-Belcher is Guilford’s freshman coach.
The Indians play in the SCC Quinnipiac Division with Shelton, Hamden, North Haven, and Sacred Heart Academy.