Booth Scores 26 to Lead East Hampton

A team on a roll, such as the East Hampton girls' basketball team, ordinarily is resourceful enough to find new paths to victory. There was no exception on Saturday night.

Although it might not have necessarily spelled out the difference in a Shoreline Conference game at North Branford, the Bellringers enjoyed one of their hottest nights of the season from the free-throw line during a 48-33 win over the injury-riddled Thunderbirds. East Hampton (12-2) shot 14-for-18 (77.8 percent) from the free-throw line in the make-up game from Thursday. 

Their winning streak now at 10 games, there was little risk of the unbeaten run stalling at nine after taking an 18-6 lead over North Branford (3-11) after the first quarter. Kelsey Booth paced East Hampton’s offense with 26 points and Sarah Denihan contributed 15.

East Hampton’s 23-10 halftime lead swelled to 33-17 by midway through the third quarter and the Bellringers led 41-24 nearly two minutes into the fourth quarter.

“To lose by 15 points to a team that is 12-2 is not bad,” North Branford coach Chris Webster said. “We’re still not doing the things we need to do to win. We had bad passes and too many travels. We missed people open on the blocks.

“We keep playing in spurts. We’ll play well for a few minutes, then stink up the court just after that. It is frustrating.”

Much of the Thunderbirds’ sluggishness on offense – they committed 23 turnovers – was a direct result of another stellar defensive performance by East Hampton (10-2 Shoreline). Over the last three quarters of the game, the score was 30-27 in favor of the Bellringers. North Branford simply could not generate any runs at East Hampton's lead.

The Bellringers defense wouldn’t allow it. North Branford, which has lost six in a row, shot 12-for-48 (25 percent) from the floor.

“We’re trying to make them as uncomfortable as they can be,” East Hampton coach Shaun Russel said. “We wanted them to work hard for their shots. It was hard for them to create an advantage.

“Defensively, we gave a good effort all night. Our communication was good. And we played good help defense.”

Webster assigned Jessica Sola to cover Booth in the Thunderbirds’ box-and-one defense. At times, Sola’s coverage restricted Booth, but East Hampton’s leading scorer this season did break free for baskets and free throws that kept deflating North Branford’s comeback attempts. Booth converted 7 of 8 free throws, and her 26 points surpassed the total of her previous two games – nine against Hale-Ray and 15 against Morgan – by two points.

Denihan remained hot. She hit two three-pointers and was 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Denihan, primarily a ballhandler and playmaker, is averaging 13.3 points a game in the past three games.

“With Kelsey Booth, they’re a one-player team,” said Webster, whose team has sustained at least seven injuries. “But that Sarah Denihan had a good game. Their one-two combination was tough.”

Russell said the Bellringers’ aggressiveness on offense has led to free-throw shooting opportunities. From there, one player’s success leads into another’s. It becomes a matter of confidence. Then momentum factors in.

Elyssa Barreto, who had two three-pointers, led North Branford with 15 points, the Thunderbirds’ lone player in double figures.