UPDATE: Braintree Basketball Wins Division 1 South Title, Lady Wamps Take to TD Garden

UPDATE: We would like to congratulate the Girls Ice Hockey Team for a fantastic season. Unfortunately, the girls were defeated 3-2 in overtime Saturday night by Arlington Catholic.  Another great high school girls hockey game tonight.

Once again, the girls played a terrific game and left everything they had on the ice.  We are very proud of their effort and representation of BHS.

–Athletic Director Mike Denise

*****     *****     *****

I suppose at some point I was going to have to witness the Lady Wamps in a game where they didn’t have a 20-point lead. No team makes it to UMass without taking down some great competition. 

Franklin and Braintree, who faced each other in the MIAA tournament on Saturday, each had a 21-2 record. Either team could have lost the game, but neither team had spent much time getting over the agony of defeat this year.

This game was set up to be a battle, and it lived up to its billing, with Braintree snatching the win with an amazing fourth quarter effort. The Franklin girls did a tremendous job throughout the whole game. However, the defense that kept the Wamps in so many games this year stifled the Franklin team in the closing minutes of the game. 

Braintree had numerous difference makers in this game. For instance, Franklin decided to give Paige Marshall three point shots and she made them pay. Then, when they decided not to give her the shots, she drove to the hoop and made them pay again. 

Franklin proved to be a formidable opponent on the boards Saturday afternoon, snatching rebounds and blocking shots. Molly Reagan and Bridget Herlihy fought countless blocks as they attempted lay ups and rebounds. Quick-footed Jen Guen, perfect from the free throw line, also tirelessly applied a full court press, stealing the ball a couple of times. Franklin’s defense kept the game close and by the end of the first half Franklin held a one-point lead.

Out of the half, Franklin pushed the lead to six. The Wamps drained a three pointer and then Molly Reagan drew a foul and tied the game up when she sunk the extra point. The Wamps were starting to heat up. By the end of the third quarter, Braintree held a slim lead.

The Braintree student fans, who out-numbered the Franklin fans six to one, started cheering loudly, “ I believe that we can win," as the girls walked out for the fourth quarter. Wamp nation even helped the cheerleaders as they led several chants.  

In the fourth quarter, the Wamps ramped up their defense, preventing shot opportunities and second chance attempts by Franklin. Braintree held Franklin to eight points in the fourth quarter and pulled out the victory, 51-46. The Wamps will play Tuesday night, March 13 at the TD Garden against the North Sectional champion.