The Walpole High School Girls Basketball team posted a solid 45-23 win over the Brookline Warriors on Thursday, December 20 in Brookline. After falling to a strong Newton North team in their home-opener, the Rebels were looking to redeem themselves and get their season back on track. The Rebels were able to control the majority of play throughout the game, posting their best defensive performance of the season so far.
They started strong, getting a quick start from senior captain Lauren Bodin, who led the team in scoring once again with 18 points. In the first half, Walpole took advantage of Brookline’s inability to finish, rebounding well and starting their offense off of missed shots by the Warriors. Strong defense ultimately allowed Walpole to end the half with a comfortable 13-point lead. Sophomore six-footer Summer King played a large role in the team’s defense, shutting down Brookline’s center, Raven Brathwaite.
The Rebels came out of the gates strong once again in the third quarter, continuing to control play. As Brookline began to gain a spark of momentum, Bodin was able to turn the tide in Walpole’s favor, taking a charge on their defensive end of the court. Juniors Bri Doherty, the team’s other six-footer, and Nell Sandvos also had strong showings off the bench in the second half for th Rebels, as Doherty added six points to the team’s score.
At the start of the fourth quarter, with Walpole leading by neary nearly 20 points, King showed her range by hitting a three-point jump shot as well as burying a number of inside shots, as she finished the night with ten points. Despite senior captain Bridget Nicholson fouling out late in the quarter, the Rebels were able to hold the Warriors with strong denfensive play from senior Darci Bruce and sophomore Julie Moser. Junior Elizabeth Ryan said, “We played well together and are beginning to come together more as a team, and we’re hoping that we can use this win to start our momentum for the rest of the season.” Walpole ended the day with a convincing 22-point lead over the Warriors, sending them into the Holiday break with a 2-1 record.
The Rebels play next against Shrewsbury in the Medway Tournament on December 27 at 6 p.m. at Medway High School.
