Despite losses, girls’ hoop sees improvement

The CHS girls’ varsity basketball team ended its five-game home stand last week winless, but in facing the top five teams in the Hockomock League during this period, Canton did show the ability to keep games close — something this team was not able to do at the start of the season. 

On a five-game road swing against these same five opponents earlier this season, Canton lost by an average of 26.4 points. This time around, Canton lost four times by an average of just 6.3 points per game, including two losses by less than five points. 

The one exception was an 82-45 loss last Wednesday against Oliver Ames, the top team in the Hockomock. Canton also lost to Franklin 69-60 last Monday and fell to Foxboro 54-49 last Friday. With the losses, the team falls to 2-12 on the season. 

Against Franklin, the girls trailed by only one point going into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers held the Bulldogs to only seven fourth quarter points en route to a nine-point win. Head coach Kaitlin Mills said Franklin’s height and speed made it difficult to defend the perimeter. 

Erika Bornemann led the way with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Nicki Fralick added 18 points, five steals and four blocks.

“Franklin is a very good basketball team,” Mills wrote in an e-mail to the Citizen. “The first time we played them we were blown out. We have improved in every aspect of the game, so I knew we would give them a battle.”

Last Wednesday against Oliver Ames was a different story with the Tigers handing Canton a 37-point loss. Despite being held to just four first-half points, Bornemann still paced the team with 20 points, while Olivia Murphy came close to a double-double with nine points and ten rebounds.

Against Foxboro, strong defense in the post kept the game close, with the Bulldogs trailing by only two points at the half. In the third quarter Mills felt Canton’s guards were able to effectively contain Foxboro’s leading scorer, Kristen Hoffman, but in the fourth quarter Hoffman hit two key three pointers, helping to cement a five-point victory for the Warriors.

“We missed a lot of free throws and layups [against Foxboro] and it really affected our game,” Mills noted. “We have to do a better job of finishing inside.”

Bornemann had 28 points in the loss to go along with 13 rebounds and four blocks. Olivia Murphy and Elana Willinsky combined for 14 points and 31 rebounds.

Canton traveled to North Attleboro on Tuesday and will travel to Stoughton on Friday.

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Posted by Jeffrey Pickette on Feb 4 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.