Kuriscak catches fire to lead Lakers past Sachems in Apponequet basketball win
Dec 13, 2023
Hannah Kuriscak dribbles in Apponequet’s 56-30 win over Middleboro. Photos by Brendan Cassidy
Lily Price scores for the Sachems
MIDDLEBORO — Hannah Kuriscak experienced the opposite of a sophomore slump as she scored 29 points to lead Apponequet Regional High School to a 56-30 victory over Middleborough High School on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
“Tonight was one of those nights where when the ball got in her hands, the ball was going up,” Apponequet Girls Basketball Head Coach Trevor Gagnier said of Kuriscak’s prolific night of shooting.
Kuriscak took the game over and made nine 3-pointers in front of the rival crowd at Middleboro High School. She scored 17 of her points in the first half as Apponequet took a commanding 33-13 lead into halftime.
Gagnier said Kuriscak had “up and down” games a season ago, while playing on the varsity team as a freshman.
“She started every game last year and her confidence now has grown,” said Gagnier. “This year we are looking for more consistency from her and that is what she is bringing.”
“We made [scoring] not as difficult as we would like,” said Middleborough Head Coach Jeff Powers. “We gave [Kuriscak] clean looks, [we knew] that she’s a catch and shoot kid. She knocked a lot of them down.”
Kuriscak wasted no time getting involved offensively. She was the first Laker player on the scoreboard after she made two field goals from 3-point range to give the Lakers a 6-0 lead.
“When she shoots the ball at that clip — you just want to find her,” said Gagnier.
Sophomores Olivia Mather and Lily Price led the Sachems in scoring with eight and six points respectively.
“This was our first game of the year. I hate to make that excuse but it showed,” said Powers. “We came out flat to start the game and they jumped all over us.”
Powers said that the Sachems need to find a “rhythm” offensively as their season progresses.
Middleboro was able to improve defensively after halftime, and were only outscored 23-17 in the second half.
Last season, Middleboro defeated Apponequet in each of their two meetings, 39-24 on Dec. 30, 2022 and 43-32 on Feb. 10, 2023. Both teams finished with a 10-11 record.
Apponequet’s next game will be on the road against Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School on Saturday, Dec. 16. Middleboro’s next game will be against Hull High School on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in Hull.
