By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The Walpole girls' basketball team faced off against the 15th-seeded Reading Memorial Rockets in the Sweet 16 round of playoffs on Tuesday, March 5, securing a 56-47 victory. Bella Bingham led the charge with 26 points, closely followed by Izzy Adams with 22 points, contributing significantly to Walpole’s success.
Despite their win, Reading Memorial presented a tough challenge, pushing Walpole to earn every point. The first quarter saw both teams fiercely competing, with Reading Memorial holding a slim 15-13 lead by the end. In the second quarter, the game remained tight, with both teams exchanging points, resulting in a tied score of 29-29 at halftime.
The third quarter saw a surge from Walpole, led by Bingham's impressive performance, propelling them to briefly take the lead. However, Reading Memorial fought back, regaining the lead with a three-pointer in the final seconds, ending the quarter 43-42 in their favor.
The final quarter was intense, with both teams battling for supremacy. In a nail-biting finish, Walpole managed to edge ahead. Despite a momentary setback when Izzy Adams injured her ankle, she bravely continued to play and ultimately sealed the win for Walpole with a final score of 56-47.
Head coach Dave Wall praised the team's efforts, emphasizing their ability to control the pace of the game: “It was more getting into the flow of the game. Getting a feel for the speed and getting a feel for what they do, and making things a bit harder for them. Then the rebounds, we gave up a few, then we started securing them defensively, and once we start playing our pace, that’s where we are most comfortable. But I give credit to that team, that team can shoot the ball, I’ve never seen a team shoot like that,” said Wall.
The Timberwolves went on to play the seventh-seeded Northhampton in the round of eight postseason game but fell to Northhampton 55-52. Walpole graduates Anna Bingham, Caitlin Boisvert, Taylor Carter, Mia Esdale, and Lauren Ofgant.
