BRONCO STAMPEDE
Burrillville gets back on winning track in major way vs. Masters, 42-11
BURRILLVILLE — It wasn't a very happy New Year for the Burrillville girls’ basketball team because the Broncos, after winning their opening Division III contest, dropped their next two by double digits and then suffered a pair of blowout non-league losses in Smithfield's holiday tournament.
The Broncos first game of 2016 was closer, but it was still a defeat as Classical earned a home win.
And then last week against a Davies team that had dominated them in December, the Broncos posted an impressive, 16-point win. That victory seems to have ignited the Broncos, who extended their winning streak to three games Tuesday afternoon with a 42-11 victory over Masters behind 10 points from junior guard Sam England.
“We've just started to pick up the pace in practice and that has led to a quicker pace in games,” Burrillville coach Samantha Stanton said. “We had the holidays and obviously not everyone's heads are focused on basketball, but the kids are back into mentally and we're all on the same page. They know what they need to do to win games.
“When we got that win [over Davies] we really needed it because the kids work so hard. They earned that win.”
Burrillville (4-6, 4-3 Division III) is over .500 in league play for the first time since defeating Block Island in its first league game of the campaign in
December. The Broncos won Tuesday's game the way thee won the previous two, with scoring balance and a suffocating full-court press.
England was the only Bronco in double digits, but she was one of nine Broncos to record at least a bucket. Senior captain Kelsey Hiler and junior forward Tanaihya Harmon each scored six points, while sophomore guard Liz Ethier chipped in with six
“Sam has been working hard in practice and that is just translating into games,” Stanton said. “She’s putting up shot after shot after shot in practice and they're starting to fall, which is good. Mikaela (Messier) at the point is playing really well. My bench is also doing a good job when I need them to come and be ready to go.”
Masters (0-7, 0-6 Division III) was coming off its best chance to win a game last week, but previously winless Block Island defeated the Warriors in Smithfield. Tuesday, sophomore Ava Gomes led the visitors with four points, all of which came in the second half. The Warriors' only points in the opening half came two minutes into the game on a Gabriella Granata hoop in the paint.
After Granata scored to cut Burrillville's lead to 4-2, the Broncos closed the half out on a 17-0 run to take a 19-point lead into halftime. England was the catalyst with six points in the opening nine minutes, while Ethier and Hiler each added four points in the opening half.
The highlight of the half came when speedy sophomore guard Nicole Ethier earned a steal and delivered a three-point play for her only points of the contest.
“I wanted to see us set the pace of the game and not lose it,” Stanton said. “I didn't want it to get sloppy and I didn't want to see us make mistakes. It got a little sloppy, but we picked up as the game went on. It seems like we need that little kick to get us going.”
Even though Cassidy Theroux made a 3-pointer moments into the second half for the visitors, the final 16 minutes gave Stanton a chance to play some of her reserve. Sophomore forward Sheridan Tupper scored four points in the second half and freshman Lauren Valenta added a hoop.
Just a week after avenging one of its defeats in Smithfield, the Broncos have a chance to avenge the other loss when undefeated Middletown hosts the Broncos Thursday night just two weeks after beating them 49-28.
“I think we can play with them if we come out playing the way we've been playing,” Stanton said. “It's going to be tough, but we need to play like we've been playing the last three games.”