Girls’ hoop team impresses new coach in loss

With a new coach and a new energy around the team heading into the season, the CHS girls’ basketball team tipped off its 2013-2014 campaign last week against Taunton, battling back from a 32-10 halftime deficit to make it a competitive game over the final two quarters.

While the visiting Bulldogs ultimately lost the game by double digits (51-38), they refused to quit and ended the game on an impressive 28-19 run.

“I kept telling the girls in the first half that we were playing a lot better than the score indicated,” said head coach Jim Choquette, who moved over to the girls’ side after coaching the JV boys’ team the past two seasons. “We were running good plays and getting good shots and good looks, but we just started cold while the [Taunton players] were hitting everything.”

Choquette said the Bulldogs came out with “typical first-game jitters,” but he was impressed with how they responded under pressure in an unfamiliar environment.

Two of Canton’s starting five had never even played a high school basketball game prior to Friday’s opener, and one of them, sophomore guard Shannon Foley, ended up leading the team in scoring with 14 points.

The team’s other newcomer, senior Kellie Stigas, also had a strong debut at the center position. An exceptional athlete, Stigas is headed to Northeastern next year to play field hockey, but she previously played basketball for many years and wanted to give the sport another try before graduating this spring.

Other top performers in the season opener for Canton included senior captain Caitlyn Hathaway, who played excellent defense and collected several rebounds, and junior captain Gabby Kenefick, who finished second on the team with 10 points. Promising freshman center Emma Murphy also played well in her first varsity action, scoring six points off the bench.

“These girls just locked it down and made this huge comeback,” Choquette said after the game. “That’s the kind of focus we’re trying to have in every game this season.”

Choquette said his goal for the team this year is to “try and be as competitive as possible every night,” both in practices and in games. He acknowledged that wins will not come easy, especially in a league that is widely regarded as one of the best in the state. But he is committed to reshaping the culture of Canton girls’ basketball and developing the team into a perennial power.

“I want to make our girls believe they can compete with anyone on any given night,” he said.

Choquette has also worked hard to generate interest in the program, and his early efforts have already begun to pay dividends.

“Last year there were 29 girls in the program altogether,” he said. “This year we had just under 50 girls in the gym for tryouts, including 17 freshmen. It was a great showing and a huge step in the right direction.”

In the meantime, the Bulldogs will return to the court this week in search of their first win, with road contests scheduled against Milford on Wednesday and Oliver Ames on Friday. The team then gets a week off from games before hosting Whitman-Hanson Regional on Friday, December 27, at 5:30 p.m.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=23434

Posted by Jay Turner on Dec 19 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.