MVRCS girls’ basketball team sweeps the week

  The girls’ basketball team of Mystic Valley Regional Charter School captured a road victory over KIPP Academy before coming home to Eastern Avenue to turn away visiting Whitter High School, improving to 5-4. Early in the game against KIPP, the Eagles came out and established a strong rebound presence while looking to push the tempo. The first quarter ended with KIPP on top 10-8.

  The Eagles kept the same tempo into the second quarter with both teams struggling to score. KIPP ended the quarter ahead 16-15. Sophomore Ava Green, who grabbed nine rebounds, kept control of the boards underneath.

  Moving into the second half, the Eagles established control by getting after it on the glass and finishing close range. A 11-10 third quarter knotted the contest at 27. From there, senior captain Liliana Palomino, who scored eight points in the fourth quarter, and freshman Bailey DeLeire, who chipped in nine points, stepped up and sealed the win with a final score of 41-30.

  “These girls continue to push for improvement game in and game out,” said coach Jonathan Currier following his team’s victory. “We have had a lot of different lineups with COVID and other setbacks, but we keep picking each other up. Losing Mairead St. Clair in the second quarter certainly hurt us, but Ava Green, Lily Palomino and Breana Nansamba [11 rebounds] stepped up.”

  Next up was Whittier. The Eagles had a simple game plan from the opening tip: to out-rebound their opponent and control the possession battle. The opening quarter saw great half court execution by DeLeire, who scored a career high 20 points and grabbed four rebounds. DeLeire opened the quarter with the first eight points for the Eagles. Nansamba continued her hot shooting, hitting two long jumpers and stabilizing the Eagles to a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

  In the second quarter, Mystic Valley executed on the defensive and offensive glass, but could not convert close range or at the free throw line, falling behind to a 23-21 halftime deficit.

  The Eagles crushed the rebound battle to the tune of 47-13 with Green grabbed 18 rebounds and scoring three points while Palomino pulled down 19 rebounds and scored four points. The Eagles used that advantage to pull away as DeLeire poured in 10 points in the second half of the 41-33 win.

  Junior Sofia Blandino excelled on the defensive end all night, recording five steals and scoring two points.

  “I was extremely pleased by the girls focusing in at halftime and coming out aggressive on the boards and to the basket in the second half,” said Currier. “They proved to themselves they can battle back and take control of the game with the rebound advantage. Liliana Palomino and Ava Green racked up career highs on the glass, and Bailey DeLeire scored her career high to help lead us to victory.”