Since day one, Walpole Rebels Girls Basketball has fought against adversity. After losing so many star seniors on the ’09 team, the team had to rebuild and “reload” all year long, finding ways to maintain the winning status they have had for many years. Despite all of the challenges of the 2010 season, the Lady Rebels still managed to earn a tournament berth, and even defeat their first round opponents, Holliston. Unfortunately, after coming so far, the Rebels season finally came to an end last Thursday as the Oliver Ames Tigers defeated Walpole 59-44.
Although the rest of the game did not fare well for the Rebels, the first quarter was dominated by the Rebels as they put up 15 points to Oliver Ames’ 11. Making good passes and draining shots allowed the early domination. A three pointer to end the quarter gave the Rebels the momentum going into the second quarter, but it would not last.
Three straight Oliver Ames lay-ups started the second quarter, catapulting the Tigers from a four point deficit to a one point lead. A drive to the hoop by senior captain Brooke Waite and a jump shot by senior captain Molly Grimes got the Rebels back on board in the quarter. Two more OA lay-ups continued their run and put the score at 26-21 with 2 minutes left in the half. A three pointer by Grimes off a senior Liz Malone steal brought the deficit to two. However, the Tigers were able to put 3 more points on the board with a lay-up and a foul shot to put the score at 30-25 going into halftime.
The third quarter revealed a new sense of energy in the Tigers team as they came up putting lay-up after lay-up on the board. Two foul shots and a lay-up by OA’s Lauren Battista started the run for the Tigers. Despite drives by Waite and Grimes, OA’s lead stretched as good shot opportunities were presenting themselves for the Tigers. The quarter ended with the Tigers holding onto a comfortable, 42-32 lead.
A lay-up by senior Christine Carty and a three point play by Grimes halved the Tigers lead, but that quick run was as close as Walpole could get for the rest of the quarter. Halfway through the quarter OA was still up 47-39, with Battista making shot after shot. After several OA foul shots in the final minutes, the Tigers put an end to the Rebel season with the score at 59-44.
Despite such a discouraging loss for a hard-working Rebel team, the season was hard-fought, battling through injuries and the replacement of players. The 2010 Rebels can enjoy the legacy they left behind—no team should back down to the adversity a new season may present.
