Worcester, MA. - The RED HOT (7-1) South High Lady Colonels take on the (4-2) Doherty High Highlanders at Doherty High tonight at 6:30pm.
This is the third of three very special seasons I have had the privilege of covering for Colonel Nation. Coach McClain took the reigns of the Lady Colonels basketball program in 2021-22. It's been one hell of a ride so far. In his Inaugural season as coach, with the legendary Grace O'Gara and Tamia Nunes leading the way, lost an early regular season game to Wachusett High @ Wachusett. We haven't looked back since. Until this week that is...The Lady Colonels dropped only the second regular season game of Coach McClain's career to defending Division 4 State Champs Cathedral High School of Boston. With two playoff losses to Walpole and Foxboro, he stands to improve his own personal Coaching record to 50-4. Win number 50 inside his third season with plenty of games left this season.
The wins are nice but Coach McClain hangs his hat heavy on his athletes. He holds each player accountable for keeping their grades in line with trying to play at the next level....College. Seniors Jaiyla Colon, Naima Bleou, and Gabby Wasiewicz have been plastered across the college coaches radar all summer and have continued their success on and off the court so far. Team chemistry has been a notable strength of this program the past three seasons and is a big part of the success being found on Apricot Hill these days. The Colonels play a brand of defense rarely seen at this level. The team has earned the nickname "The Department of Defense and rightfully so. They have given opposing teams some serious problems in that regard holding Burncoat and Dracut under 20points for the game this week ad a 30point victory over a strong Franklin High School program. Coach McClain answered the call for a stronger, more challenging schedule this year and has added some top tier teams to the schedule to get the girls more prepped for the playoffs. We have watched this team go through some growing pains as they ease transfers SR. Annitsy Robles and FR La Lea Blount to the mix, as well as FR Sharpshooter Lydia Charlonne who was an All Tournament Team Selection in Dracut.
After the tough loss to Cathedral High School, this team found itself at the emotional crossroads. Some tough love, tough locker room conversations, Coach McClain found a way to light a fire under this team. He moved some pieces around in the starting lineup competitively and the bottomline is this team has meshed. They have played 3 nearly flawless offensive games in a row. Hitting shots and playing unselfish. Playing Colonel Basketball. This team is scorching right now and to be honest they look scary. The fact that we have a different girls stepping up every game is where the story lies. All hands in. We believe! LFG!
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