Girls hoop catches fire as winning streak hits 4 in a row
By Mike Berger
Senior Fay Gallery had a career night in the Bulldogs’ dominant win vs. North Attleboro. (Mike Tureski photo)
It all started over the recent school vacation week with an impressive, 57-52 away win over nonleague Hingham.
Since then, the CHS girls basketball team has kept its foot on the gas, topping 80 points twice last week in consecutive blowout wins over Taunton and North Attleboro. Earlier this week, the Bulldogs added another quality win against Kelley-Rex contender King Philip, running their winning streak to four in a row.
Canton (5-3) now finds itself in second place in the Davenport Division and within striking distance of first-place Oliver Ames.
The key to last week’s victories, which came after a 12-day layoff, was the continued hot shooting of the Bulldogs’ three stars — sisters Fay and Sydney Gallery and Kiara Cerruti — along with an aggressive defense that combined for 18 steals in the team’s 80-45 win home over NA Friday night.
In that game, the Bulldogs built a 21-7 first-quarter advantage and piled it on from there, leading 41-14 at the half and 63-33 after three quarters. Fay Gallery connected on seven three-pointers for a career-high 27 points to go along with seven rebounds, eight assists and six steals. Cerruti also heavily contributed with 26 points and five steals, while Sydney Gallery added 11 points and five assists.
Samya DaSilva also chipped in with five points, five rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists, and Emily McCabe scored four points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Also playing well were Carly Fitzgerald and Maia Mahoney as the Bulldogs rolled despite missing three regular contributors in Marissa Staffiere, Erin Beatty and Han Hong.
In last week’s 83-53 win at Taunton, the Gallery sisters and Cerruti combined to score 72 of Canton’s 83 points. Cerruti scored a career-high 33 points and pulled down seven rebounds; Fay Gallery added 21 points, five rebounds and six assists; and Sydney Gallery scored 17 to go with eight rebounds and seven assists. DaSilva also had a strong game with seven points and four rebounds.
Head coach Jim Choquette said the team has a new mindset, using team defense and an aggressive press to score points as well as looking inside to a cutting player headed toward the basket. “The result is more open shots,” he said. “We are moving the ball well and executing our plays.”
The second big adjustment is a day-to-day focus on making every practice and game important, especially in light of past delays and the continued uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.
After facing KP on Tuesday, the Bulldogs were due to host Stoughton last night and will then head to Sharon on Friday, January 21. The girls visit Mansfield next Tuesday, followed by three in a row at home against Foxboro, Attleboro and Oliver Ames.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=81878
Posted by Mike Berger
on Jan 20 2022. Filed under High School, Sports.
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