BERLIN – Worcester Prep used its tenacious defense to stymie Greenwood Mennonite in the first half and led 13-11 at the break. But the second half was a different story. 

“We came out flat, I don’t know why, but we did,” said Worcester Prep coach Page Watts. “We struggled defensively. We have some struggles offensively but our defense is usually a lot better.”

The Mallards offense just could not get on track after half time. Worcester Prep was outscored 11-1 by Greenwood in the third quarter with the Mallards lone point coming off a free throw by freshman Kristen Shriver. 

But even after being down 22-14 to start the fourth quarter, Worcester Prep had a chance to pull out a win. The Mallards defense snuffed out the Flames offense and Worcester Prep chipped away at the lead. 

Claire Brown and Olivia Wilgus hit free throws to make it 24-17. Then Wilgus scored Worcester Prep’s first field goal of the half by converting an offensive rebound and Meredith Smith added a free throw to cut the lead to 27-20 with three minutes left. But the Mallards missed three straight layup opportunities and after Shriver’s basket with under a minute to go, they ran out of time. 

“We just couldn’t buy a basket,” Watts said. “We have to go back to the basics at practice this week.”