The girls varsity basketball team beat the Boston Latin School Wolfpack 55-48 on Thursday, Jan. 16 in the Schunltz Gymnasium.

The number 44-ranked Wolfpack were looking to beat the number 25-ranked Warriors and give them their second loss in a row at their home court.

Junior and captain Nefeli Aga-Kitch said she knew the importance of coming out strong in this game after losing to the Walpole Timberwolves on January 15.

“We had to come out with a lot of intensity and play strong throughout the whole game, and I think that’s what we executed tonight,” Aga-Kitch said.

From the tip-off, the Wolfpack dominated possession and the early part of the game. Yet, the Warriors proved early on that they could remain competitive, despite their opponent’s strong start.

Late in the first quarter, the Warriors trailed by three points and the Wolfpack had all the momentum. Senior and captain Olivia Zanini was able to steal this momentum, hitting a three-pointer to tie the game up at nine a piece.

The Wolfpack still maintained the lead, even after the tying shot from Zanini. As the Warriors trailed by one point in the dwindling seconds of the first quarter, junior and captain Ivy Wheeler dished a beautiful pass up the court to Zanini, who hit a layup to give the Warriors their first lead of the night.

The Warriors would hold on to this lead entering the second quarter up 16-14. Despite the lead, the Wolfpack came out flying in the second quarter. However, that was only until senior Kyrieh Simmons dropped a huge three-pointer to take back the lead 23-20.

The Warriors capitalized on their newfound momentum, as junior Jada Kimbro and Aga-Kitch scored back-to-back lay-up’s to extend their lead to seven points.

After senior and captain Olivia Mataraza, the Warriors’ leading scorer for the game, found herself in foul trouble late in the second quarter, junior Vivianna McDonald filled the role of center with a nice assist to end the first half.

The Warriors entered the second half with a 36-28 lead. This was familiar to the Warriors, as they also led on Jan. 14 at the half. They ended up dropping this lead to Walpole and lost the game. This was something the Warriors did not want to repeat.

Head coach Kendall Jones said he spoke to the players about how the second half had to go for the team if they wanted to come out on top.

“I kept preaching to them that they have to set the tone and not only match their energy but succeed it,” Jones said.

And succeed it they did, as the Warriors shifted into a new gear to start the second half.

The Warriors did find some foul trouble late in the third quarter, which put the Wolfpack in the bonus. Despite the fouls, Zanini was able to hold on to the momentum with some hustle plays to end the quarter.

The Warriors entered the fourth quarter with an even bigger 47-33 lead and quickly extended it with a three-pointer from Wheeler.

The Wolfpack did find a spark, however, late in the game and succeeded in cutting the lead down to just five points. Following a bucket from Aga-Kitch, however, the lead stayed steadily in the Warriors’ hands.

After an offensive rebound from Aga-Kitch and a quick timeout from Jones to gain settled possession, the Warriors secured the victory with the score resting at 55-48. With this victory, the Warriors bring their record to 5-6.

Kimbro said she thinks she and the team bounced back well after the loss against Walpole.

“We had our few mistakes and some problems,” Kimbro said. “But we cleaned it up and we came out with the win.”