WINCHENDON – The Worcester Academy varsity girls’ basketball team won their second game-a-row to open the winter season in impressive fashion by defeating the Winchendon School, 87-41.

Hilltoppers senior captain Lola Lesmond topped her 22-point performance from the first game of the season by scoring a game-high 31 points against the Wapiti

Cameron Rust

on Saturday. Lesmond, a transfer from Illinois, also dominated the boards with 10 rebounds. Sophomore Cameron Rust, who is the only returning player from last year’s team, scored a career-high 28 points, including five three-pointers. Junior Oluchi Okananwa controlled the game in the backcourt hitting double-figures in points with 11, along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals. 

The game was never in doubt as the Hilltoppers jumped out to a 41-16 first half lead and never looked back. Worcester’s Alexandra Eldredge also scored nine points on two shots, including a three-pointer while sinking four free throws. The Hilltoppers outscored Winchendon 46-25 down the stretch to improve their record to 2-0 in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Freelance League.

Lesmond also tallied three assists in the victory, while teammates Kathryn Adiletta and Abby MacDonald finished with three points apiece and Autumn Perry sank two free throws.

Worcester heads back on the road to Weston for their next game at the Rivers School in a non-league match on Monday at 6 p.m.

Worcester boys’ basketball team dropped to 1-2 over the weekend.

Woodstock Academy 90, Worcester Academy 76

Bridgton Academy 93, Worcester Academy 70

WOODSTOCK, Conn. – Senior co-captain Dan Becil scored thirty-plus points in back-to-back games, but the Hilltoppers were not able to win either contest.

In their first game of the season, Becil, Worcester’s talented starting point guard, registered a career-high in points with 34, which included seven, three-pointers, in a 75-71 win against Blair Academy at Albertus Magnus College in New Jersey on Nov. 22.

Since then, the Hilltoppers had some time between games, because their Dec. 1 game against Brimmer & May was canceled. Despite the gap, Worcester showed no signs of rust as they jumped out to a 42-37 lead against Woodstock Academy on Saturday, Dec. 4 only to get routed in the second half, 53-34, and lose by a final score of 90-83.

As a silver lining in the loss for the Hilltoppers, Tre Norman had a career-high 35 points, which included him making 23 of 29 shots from the free throw line. Becil also chipped in with 18 points, including four three-points, and Kayvaun Mulready had 12 points in the loss.

Unfortunately for Worcester, they followed their Saturday loss with another tough defeat to Bridgton Academy, 93-70, at the Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton to fall to 1-2 on the season. Their next game will be on Wednesday, Dec. 8 against the Tilton School in Tilton, NH.