Milicia “Mimi” Reid shed her slump in Bishop Loughlin’s most complete performance of the season.
Lions coach Chez Williams challenged the struggling star junior to bounce back against Mary Louis a day after her lackluster performance in a loss to Archbishop Molly — and she rose to the occasion during the team’s 78–67 Jan. 3 win.
“We had a long talk: ‘Today I need you to make good decisions, if it is scoring you got to do, if it is dishing you got to do — whatever you got to do for us to win is what I need you do,’ ” Williams said.
Reid did all of it. She poured in game-high 30 points, dished out 10 assists, and grabbed five rebounds. She dropped in 17 of those in the second half and was instrumental in transition during a 14–4 run early in the fourth quarter.
“As a point guard, he wants me to run the team,” Reid said. “I think we pulled it out really well.”
The win keeps the Lions in the hunt for second place in their division — Loughlin, Molloy, and Mary Louis all have three league losses. The victory also sent seniors Bryanna Brown, Elease Billings-Harrison, Skydajah Patterson, and Ahyana Green out with a win on their Senior Day.
“It was a little bit emotional, but it was a good win,” said Patterson, who scored 12 points. “I feel like we played great.”
Uninspired play in a loss to Briarwood last Monday motivated Loughlin’s more aggressive and emotional performance at home, Williams said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to lose in order to understand what is to win,” the coach said.
An active and physical Lions defense made Hilltoppers stars Danielle Patterson and Jasmine Brunson work for each of their 26 and 23 respective points. Mary Louis (12–6, 3–3) went more than five minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter. The 14–4 run put the Lions up 64–50 with 5:12 to play in the game.
“We limited Danielle’s touches,” Williams said.
Lynette Taitt had 15 points, seven rebounds, and five steals for Loughlin (16–6, 5–3), and Billings-Harrison chipped in 10 points. Courtney McCool added 13 points for Mary Louis, which has lost its last three league games. Loughlin believes it has righted its ship, and the Hilltoppers are still looking to do the same.
“We need to get come momentum going,” Patterson said. “It’s a loss. You got to learn from it, but also you have to learn to move on from it.”
