Murphy-led Bulldogs slip past Stoughton for season’s 9th win

With the help of Canton forward Olivia Murphy’s 15-point, 24-rebound performance, the CHS girls’ basketball team defeated Stoughton 43-40 last week for the second time this season.

On January 21, Canton roughed up Stoughton 81-58 at home. Last Tuesday night’s game in Stoughton was much closer, however. The Bulldogs led 41-40 with less than a minute left, when junior point guard Alana Pitts-Anaya and sophomore guard Lauren Berman were each fouled and forced to the free-throw line.

Both Pitts-Anaya and Berman hit one of two from the line and secured the 43-40 lead, and the Canton defense held off the Black Knights for their ninth win of the season.

“It was a physical game for [Murphy], but she never gives up,” said head coach Kaitlin Mills after the game. “She just dominated the boards, and if she had played longer she would have even got more rebounds.”

Murphy missed most of the game due to foul trouble, but she was still able to produce with another double-double and looked to her teammates to step up and score in her absence. Senior captain Nikki Fralick scored nine points and dished out four assists, while Pitts-Anaya scored eight points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists.

“Nikki was shooting really well during the first quarter when Olivia got into foul trouble,” said Mills. “It was a low scoring game for us, but considering [Stoughton] did a great job defensively against our best shooter, I think our kids handled it really well.”

After the game, Coach Mills said she feels the team is now ready for the upcoming Division 3 tournament in March as her youngest players are starting to feel more comfortable in their roles. Sophomore forwards Kristen Burns and Sarah Winkler, both in their first year of varsity basketball, combined for 21 rebounds against Stoughton.

“They’re able to stay calm but also play hard at the end and make the big baskets and make defensive plays, which gives us a lot of hope for the future,” Mills said. “It’s exciting for a coach to see the young players stepping up.”

On Friday, the girls lost to North Attleboro for the second time this season, falling 68-46. NA first defeated the Bulldogs on January 11, 63-52, but last Friday’s game was a blowout. The Bulldogs trailed by only 10 at the half but came out flat in the second half and only scored five points in the third quarter.

“We just fell apart offensively,” Mills said.

Murphy was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs with 15 points in the loss. She also added 13 rebounds.

The Bulldogs are currently 9-9 and were scheduled to play in the Westwood Tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday to conclude their regular season. Coach Mills and her squad will then prepare for the Division 3 state tournament.

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Posted by Tony Catinella on Feb 24 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.