On March 5, the Walpole High School girls basketball team ended their 2026 playoff run with a loss against Saint Mary’s High School. The loss came at the end of a season in which Walpole went 16-5 and secured themselves the sixth seed in division two and a first round bye in the playoffs. Following their off week, Walpole won games against Notre Dame Academy and Duxbury High School to send them to the round of eight, where their season came to a close.
In their first game of the playoffs, Walpole faced off against the Notre Dame Academy Cougars at home. Walpole started the game off strong with senior captain Tori Adams scoring three three-pointers without any Notre Dame response. Junior Katie McDonald also scored a three before Notre Dame finally put themselves on the board with a deep three from senior Elle Orlando, making the score 12-3 in favor of Walpole. Following Orlando’s basket, she and the rest of the Notre Dame team began to comeback, ultimately tying the game while not allowing Walpole to score in the process. Walpole ended the period returning to their dominance of the start of the game, holding Notre Dame scoreless while making the score 22-12. The start of the second quarter featured both teams trading baskets throughout, Walpole unable to build on their lead but Notre Dame unable to close it. Walpole ended the period with a 34-20 lead, putting them in a comfortable position entering halftime. Walpole and Notre Dame started the next period again trading points with layups by Walpole’s senior captain Bella Bingham and Notre Dame sophomore Lucy Disch. Another layup by Bingham, three more by Adams and a three-pointer by junior Riley Halloran put Walpole further into the lead. The rest of the third period was tame offensively, ending with a score of 52-30 with Walpole in the lead. The fourth period lacked any major scoring changes. Walpole’s defense, featuring steals by juniors Emily Mulgrew and Leah Mulligan, held Notre Dame to just four points, resulting in a final score of 60-34. Adams ended the game as the team’s highest scorer, putting up 21 points. Halloran followed behind Adams with 12.
Going into the sweet 16, Walpole had another home game against the 11th seed, Duxbury. The game started with Bingham quickly notching eight points and three rebounds as Walpole built a 14-9 lead. Play then transitioned into a shooting-focused game, with both teams scoring multiple three-pointers. Towards the end of the period with Duxbury’s junior Fiona Wall driving through the Walpole defense for a layup to tie the game. Walpole quickly scrambled to score before the buzzer, succeeding with Adams drawing a foul and scoring both free throws to make the score 19-17 for the Walpole Timberwolves. After starting the next period by extending their lead to five points, Walpole slowed down, allowing Duxbury to catch back up and take their first lead of the game thanks to a three by senior Hailey Flynn. As the game remained close, both teams began to get into foul trouble, allowing each other to score many points off of free throws. With Walpole up 29-26, both teams began struggling offensively, neither scoring for over a minute. This drop in action was ended by Bingham extending Walpole’s lead to 31-26. McDonald and Duxbury’s Reagan Widdop subsequently traded three-pointers, ending the half with Walpole up 34-29. Much like the second, the third period started competitively, with neither team able to separate from the other. This close play continued until there was one minute left, when a made shot by Bingham followed by two threes for McDonald allowed Walpole to start expanding their lead, making the game 51-38. A deep buzzer-beater three by Flynn brought Duxbury slightly closer as the third period ended. Bingham continued her hot streak in the final period, quickly scoring to extend Walpole’s lead and blocking multiple Duxbury shots. Walpole maintained a double digit lead throughout the period, stretching out their possessions to stop Duxbury from mounting a comeback. In a final effort, Duxbury defense began to play full court press against Walpole. This strategy ultimately failed, allowing McDonald to make a wide-open three. Two more three pointers from Flynn helped to partially close the gap, but it was too late for Duxbury to do anything substantial, sending Walpole to the round of eight with a score of 63-52. Bingham ended the game scoring 26 points while McDonald scored 19.
Walpole then headed north to face off against St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, Mass. At the start of the game, Walpole was controlled by St. Mary’s offense, unable to even attempt a shot for the first minute. Three minutes into the game, Mulgrew made a three-pointer, marking Walpole’s first score of the game. Walpole continued to make up ground with a three from McDonald putting them up 6-5. After their comeback, Walpole began to find their rhythm, making themselves a small lead. Over the rest of the period, St. Mary’s worked back up to Walpole, ending with a 13-12 lead. Walpole started the second period again struggling to score while St. Mary’s freshman Sysy Emmanuel extended their lead, scoring five points consecutively with a three and a layup. St. Mary’s continued to dominate, scoring 14 points before Walpole’s first of the period, that being a layup by Bingham. Walpole’s three-point shooting, which had carried them through the first period, slowed down severely in the second as both McDonald and Adams missed multiple threes. Walpole continued to fall further behind St. Mary’s, ending the half down 41-19. The third period started off much more competitive with St. Mary’s merely maintaining their lead instead of growing it. Walpole continued to struggle to overcome St. Mary’s aggressive defense as they desperately attempted to begin a comeback. With the end of the third period, little had changed with St. Mary’s now up 57-35. The fourth period featured more of the same. Emmanuel and the rest of the St. Mary’s offense continued to breeze past Walpole’s defense. The game, and Walpole’s season, came to a close with a final score of 75-43.
Despite their season ending in a blowout, Walpole managed to match last year’s performance, once again securing a spot in the elite eight. Next year, with starters McDonald and Mulgrew returning, Walpole hopes to make another deep playoff run. In a win over Whitman-Hanson Regional, St. Mary’s solidified their spot in the finals and ultimately lost to Medfield High School for the championship on March 13.
