Braintree finds itself a victory

SCHOOLS

While the No. 2 Braintree girls basketball team arrived at yesterday’s Bay State Conference home game against No. 6 Wellesley as the most successful program in the area in recent years, this year’s group still was searching for its identity.

When all was said and done on its homecourt, the Wamps took a big step forward in that process with a 61-47 victory against the Raiders.

“We really needed this (win), more just for my team to prove to themselves that they have the character to get back out there after a loss,” said Braintree coach Kristen McDonnell, whose team dropped a four-point decision to Enfield (Conn.) at last week’s Hoophall Classic in Springfield. “They made this a huge game, and we were lucky and fortunate to come out with a win.”

Braintree (7-2) used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter to take a 14-6 lead into the second, and Keelah Dixon (17 points, five steals) and Adriana Timberlake (11 points) kept the pace going for a 31-16 halftime lead.

A 7-0 spurt coming out of the break pushed the Wamps’ advantage to 38-16, but behind solid defense and some individual offense by Dorian Cohen (21 points, eight rebounds), Wellesley (8-1) closed the gap in the third quarter. But by the start of the fourth, Braintree still led by 18 points.

A suffocating defense down the stretch secured the win for the Wamps.

Elswhere in the BSC, Kelly Fogarty put up 21 points for Walpole (6-3) in an 80-41 rout of Weymouth.

Veronica Burton erupted for 33 points, sending Newton South (9-2) to a 63-33 victory against Wayland in the Dual County League. ... Demi Atkins led the way with 29 points for Cambridge (6-4) in a 63-49 win against Waltham.

Boys basketball

Jordan Rose-Wheatley dominated with 34 points as Greater New Bedford (7-2) rolled past Bourne, 75-69, in the South Coast Conference.

Spencer Aronson’s 18 points, 15 rebounds and six assists paced a 68-60 win by Holliston (8-1) in the TriValley League against Medway.

Chase Bomeisler netted 31 points in a 66-43 victory for Cohasset (7-3) against Randolph in the South Shore League.

In the Patriot League, Damyan Markov scored 17 points as Quincy (9-2) beat Plymouth North, 64-41.

Shaq Joseph finished with 18 points to go with 11 rebounds, helping Somerville (6-4) past Arlington, 71-55, in a nonleague matchup. ... Jeff Marcellus posted 18 points and 12 rebounds as Latin Academy (6-2) topped Durfee, 56-53. . . . Jalen Johnson scored 20 points and Edwin Solis had nine points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Lynn Classical (10-2) downed Everett 64-57.