By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Walpole High School girls’ basketball faced a tough test Monday night as they hosted Bishop Feehan, the defending Division 1 state champions. The Shamrocks came out on top, defeating the Timberwolves 64-41 in a fast-paced matchup.
Feehan, ranked among the top teams in Massachusetts, boasts a formidable lineup, including Maddy Steel (committed to Tufts), Charlotte Adams-Lopez (Brown), and Sam Carlson (Skidmore), who all look to play college hoop. Head coach Amy Dolores, named Girls’ Division 1 Coach of the Year by the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association the past two seasons, continues to lead Feehan to success.
Both teams entered the game having faced New Hampshire powerhouse Bedford earlier this season. Bedford, the reigning New Hampshire Division 1 state champion, is riding a 30-game win streak and is regarded as one of the best public school teams in New England. Feehan lost to Bedford 61-49, while Walpole fell 57-24.
Monday’s matchup drew a large crowd at the Walpole High gym, with fans from both teams filling the stands. From the start, Feehan set a blistering pace, pressing defensively and jumping out to a 9-2 lead, fueled by two 3-pointers and a steal by Mollie Mullen. Despite foul trouble for Walpole’s Abby McCann, the Timberwolves clawed back to finish the first quarter down 19-13, thanks in large part to Bella Bingham, who scored 10 of her 25 points in the opening period.
Feehan extended its lead in the second quarter, going into halftime up 34-22. The third quarter proved decisive, as the Shamrocks outscored Walpole 21-9, doubling their lead and effectively sealing the game. Feehan led 55-31 entering the final frame, where Walpole outscored the visitors 10-9, but the deficit was insurmountable.
Adams-Lopez led Feehan (8-1) with 18 points, while Steel added 11, all scored in the second half. Mullen also had 11, Shannon LaMorticelli chipped in 10, and Lily Singer finished with 7.
For Walpole (7-4), Bingham’s 25 points accounted for more than half of the team’s total. Tori Adams contributed 5 points in the loss.
Walpole outscored the Shamrocks in the final stanza, 10-9, but by then the result was fait accompli. The final score was 64-41. The Timberwolves will look to bounce back as they continue their march toward the playoffs.
