Mariners too much for ’Canes down the stretch

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 1/21/16

Defending Division III champion Narragansett was too much for the Warwick Vets girls basketball team on Tuesday night, converting on several ’Canes’ turnovers en route to a 45-39 Mariners’ …

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Mariners too much for ’Canes down the stretch

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Defending Division III champion Narragansett was too much for the Warwick Vets girls basketball team on Tuesday night, converting on several ’Canes’ turnovers en route to a 45-39 Mariners’ victory.

The ’Canes faced a six-point deficit entering the second half, scoring just 13 points in the first 16 minutes. But in the second half, Vets created cleaner looks on offense, and in turn, doubled its point total with 26 points coming after halftime.

Unfortunately for the ’Canes, the Mariners got a big lift from Sarah Sweet in the second half, as the freshman poured in 12 of her game-high 16 points after the break.

“We put in a good effort, they just shot lights-out on us,” Vets head coach Owen Paquet said. “We’re young at defending great shooters like that. The hustle and heart were there, we just gave them a few too many chances.”

Both teams came out struggling from the field in the opening half.

Kat Raposo scored Vets’ first two baskets, giving the ’Canes a 4-2 lead two minutes, 45 seconds in, but then Vets went cold over the next five minutes.

That drought allowed for Narragansett to go on an 8-1 run, taking a 10-5 lead.

Raposo would end the run when she bolted past a defender and banked in a runner, but Narragansett would maintain its lead for the remainder of the half.

Holding a four-point advantage, the Mariners headed into the locker room with momentum, when Taylor Flint collected a defensive rebound, drove the length of the floor and dished to Riley Clancey for a baseline jumper to give Narragansett a 19-13 advantage.

In the second half, Emma Nason gave Vets a lift on both ends of the floor.

She hit shots on each of Vets’ first two possessions to trim its deficit to two instantaneously. She would go on to score all 10 of her points in the second half, in addition to blocking four shots and collecting four rebounds.

Five minutes into the half, Vets knotted the score at 21 when Mackenzie Hough sent an entry pass in to Caitlyn Fallon for an easy basket.

Hough then gave Vets its first edge since leading 4-2 with 10:30 left, when she grabbed a weak side offensive rebound and banked in a runner to make it 23-21 in Vets’ favor.

Not rattled, Narragansett took back control right away.

Flint stole the ball on Vets’ next possession, before going in for an uncontested layup to tie the game.

She then drove to the hoop on the Mariners’ next possession, getting fouled while making the shot. Flint drained the free throw to give her team a three-point lead, 26-23.

From there, Sweet took over.

She stole the ball and scored on a layup to push the lead out to seven, and brought the lead out to double-digits, 41-31, with four minutes left when she swished a baseline jump shot.

Back-to-back scores from Fallon inside helped to cut the deficit to eight twice, but Vets couldn’t get a key stop down the stretch.

Fallon led Vets with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, despite drawing multiple defenders for a majority of the game.

“She stays strong even when she’s not getting the basketball, and she put up some big points towards the end of the game,” Paquet said of his freshman forward. “She helped us make a little run at it at the end. It’s nice to see her moving without the basketball, catching it and going up strong without hesitation. She’s going to be a powerhouse. She already is, and she’s going to be one for a long time.”

Junior point guard Raposo chipped in with a team-high 14 points for Vets, while Flint added 13 points in addition to Sweet’s 16 for the Mariners.

Vets (6-5) was looking to end its two-game skid on Wednesday against North Smithfield, but results were unavailable at press time.

The ’Canes also have a big matchup at 4 p.m. on Friday, when they host cross-town rival Pilgrim.

Paquet and his players are looking forward to the much-anticipated matchup.

“It’s a big game on Friday, biggest game of the year for us,” Paquet said. “They’re a very senior-oriented team, so they’ll be a little stronger mentally than us. But if we can cut down on the turnovers and keep rebounding and pushing, maybe we can win it on the floor.”

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