Dennis-Yarmouth, Nauset girls basketball teams prepping for the home stretch

SOUTH YARMOUTH — The home stretch of any team's season is critical.

Playing well provides essential momentum heading into the postseason, but a wobbly finish can let doubts creep in.

The Dennis-Yarmouth girls basketball team understands that as it enters the final stretch of their season. They've just crossed the halfway point, and after beating the Nauset Warriors 61-36, improved to 8-3 on the season.

They have goals for what they want the rest of the season to look like, and it starts by reaching a milestone the Dolphins haven't achieved in over three decades.

"We've had the goal since the beginning (of the season)," head coach Michael Freeman said. "We haven't had a banner up for the league since 89-90, so that's the goal for the year."

To do that, they know it will take contributions from everyone on the roster. Such expectations can cause teams to crumble, but senior Chloe Azoff said the team is facing that challenge head-on.

'Giving it everything we've got, at every practice and every game'

"We are definitely embracing it, and giving it everything we've got at every practice and every game," she said. "We're working for that."

The Dolphins are embracing it with that level of focus because they remember last season. The Dolphins had a chance to end the league title drought, but finished the season 2-6 in their last eight games.

"I think we're very motivated, we really want to win," Siena Lauze said. "We wanted to win last year too, we just came up short."

After the game, coach Freeman said as the season winds down, every minute of experience will be helpful. The Dolphins have been plagued by injuries this season, recently losing another starter for the season. The Dolphins' bench will be called upon as the games get tougher. In the win over the Warriors, the bench got crucial minutes.

"The bench was great," Freeman said. "We're down to 10 girls, so they all have to be ready."

Dennis-Yarmouth's Siena Lauze led all scorers with 26

Familiar faces led the way in the win. Siena Lauze led all scorers with 26, and Tessa Hinds, Jaylene Pires, and Azoff had eight points apiece.

Among the smallest on the court, Lauze was constantly in the thick of the action. On both ends of the floor she never shied away from contact and gave all her energy when on the floor.

"She's (the) Energizer Bunny," Freeman said of Lauze. "She's one of the best cross-country runners in the state, so it clearly translates to here ... She just goes, goes, goes, and that energy when she's playing with it, it's infectious."

Her points came from all three levels, scoring inside and out, often absorbing contact, and finishing toughly at the rim.

"Honestly it's just having confidence in knowing what you can do," she said.

Finishing with devastating efficiency

Despite her small stature, Lauze finishes with devastating efficiency. Part of that is because of the unique benefit of being left-handed, and the angles it creates, but she's equally adept at finishing with her right.

Her 26 points were a career high. After the game, teammate Azoff said Lauze is incredibly dangerous when she catches fire.

"Once she's warmed up that's it," Azoff said. "She is fast, speedy, everything she does is faster than the defender ... She's an amazing player, even though she doesn't want to admit it, she is."

The loss drops the Warriors to 6-7. After the game Nauset head coach Jean Leyton said she thought her team didn't have the right mindset entering the game.

"We can't give up a half, and expect to climb back in, that's a big hole," Leyton said.

The loss doesn't derail the Warriors' season. Their future still remains in their hands. As they go down the home stretch, Leyton said the focus will be on consistency.

"They just have to learn how to think at game speed," she said. "It's coming. We have our days where we do it really really well."

The loss against the Dolphins was a bit of a story of two halves. The Warriors struggled offensively, only scoring five in the first half, but halftime adjustments, plus seeing the ball go through the net a couple times, allowed for a more successful final 16 minutes.

The Warriors have eight games left and know each one will count. Leyton said the mindset of her team will be critical, as they look to cement their playoff position.

Both teams have clear goals with what they what to accomplish with the remainder of the regular season. Now, it's about executing it.

André Simms covers high school sports for the Times. Contact him at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @that1guyandre.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Dennis-Yarmouth girls hoops looking for redemption