Belchertown versus Wahconah Regional
4th Quarter
No time left but the referee called a foul on Goodale as Rivers let a shot go with no time left and the Warriors have won here 44-43. This is a tough way to go down I’ve never seen a game decided by a play like this.
Rivers let it go and it was not going in. She fell to the ground and the referee made a late call here. This has to hurt. We will get some post-game comments and come back in a few.
Check out Sports Editor Dave Forbes’ comments on that play at his live blog at daveforbessports.wordpress.com.
1:03: Curry hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 43-43 and the Warriors grabbed the rebound on the second miss. Now they want to talk things over in this tight contest.
1:19: Rivers tied it up with a short stroke and B. Del Valle just missed two free throws. The Orioles had two chances on the rebound and K. Del Valle hit one of two and the Orioles lead 43-32.
2:42: Belchertown has taken the lead here 42-20 as Cavanaugh hit a shot from the top of the key. The Orioles trailed by 10 at one point but have come all the way back. This should be a good finish here at UMASS.
5:07: Ferris hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead back to five but B. Del Valle hit a baseline jumper and Kierstin just hit a free throw and it’s a two point game at 40-38 here at the Cage.
6:37: Time out Warriors. The Orioles are on an 8-0 run here. B. Del Valle has scored underneath and Pare hit Cavanaugh for a strong inside score. Suddenly the Warriors lead is cut to 37-35.
3rd Quarter
End of 3rd: A technical foul on the Belchertown bench and the Warriors are taking control here. Weiler scored from Sullivan and Ferris hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Orioles trailed by 1o but closed out the period with a B. Del Valle hoop and Cavanaugh hit a reverse lay up in the lane.
We head to the final quarter with Wahconah leading 37-31. Remember, the Orioles trailed Commerce by eight heading into the fourth so there is plenty of time.
3:14: Hannah Aponte has come off the bench to give the Orioles their first basket of the second half. But Rivers came right back for a 3-pointer. Brianna connected with Kierstin and the Warriors lead 31-27 here. Time out Belchertown.
5:46: Sullivan opened the third with a made basket but the story here is the Orioles 8-for-20 from the line. Also, Cavanaugh hurt her knee and it’s wrapped up. Ferris added a 3-pointer and the Warriors have their biggest lead at 28-23.
Olivia Pare has three fouls while Kiersin, Brianna and Kopacz each have two fouls each.
Leading scorers for Belchertown are Brianna, Olivia and Katelyn each with five points while the Warriors are led by Sullivan (7) and Curry (5)
The Orioles had a six point lead and the ball but let the Warriors back in. However, Belchertown has been a fourth quarter team in the playoffs. Tune back in for second half action.
2nd Quarter
Halftime: The Orioles used a 6-0 run to build a 23-17 lead. Kaleigh Kopacz hit two free throws to begin the run. Pare also scored. The Warriors came back with a Rivers hoop and four free thows helped them tie the score at the half at 23-23.
2:56: Aliah Curry hit a 3-pointer for the Warriors to give them a brief lead but B. Del Valle put back a missed shot and Cavanaugh hit a 3-ball and the Orioles hold a 20-17 edge.
4:57: The Orioles are clinging to a 14-13 lead as the Warriors signal a time out. Pare delivered a basket and Kelsie Dumas answered on the other end.
1st Quarter
End if 1st: B. Del Valle is on the board with a score down low. Sullivan hit a 3-pointer for the Warriors but after a block, Goodale and Laura Belanger connected on a 2-on-1 play and Kierstin Del Valle scooped up and offensive rebound and put it back at the buzzer. The Orioles are in front 12-9.
2:07: The score remains 6-5 Warriors as both teams start to feel each other out. A lot of turnovers and missed shots here. Nerves may be playing a factor here.
3:39: Sullivan scored the first Warrior basket on a lay-up in transition. Cavanaugh answered with a pair of free throws but Sullivan hit a short jumper. Pare hit one of two free throws as Wahconah holds a slim 6-5 lead.
5:56: Slow start here. The Orioles received a strong drive and finish by Goodale after the Warriors turned it over on their first possession. Wahconah hit a pair of free throws. It’s 2-2 right now.
Starting line ups
Wahconah: Danielle Weiler (G), Michaela Rivers (G), Darcey Sullivan (G), Jamy Ferris (F) and Sara Hamilton (F)
Belchertown: Kierstin Del Valle (C), Brianna Del Valle (F), Katherine Goodale (F), Olivia Pare (G) and Katelyn Cavanaugh (G)
Before we begin, make sure to check out Gregscibellisports.wordpress.com for action over at AIC between the top-seeded Falcons of Minnechaug and No. 5 Central in a Western Massachusetts Division 1 girls semifinal. ‘
Greg will have all the live action for eager fans who can’t make the trip to Springfield. Also, Dave Forbes will be back for the night cap here in Amherst for Palmer versus top-seeded Hoosac Valley of Cheshire. That can be viewed at davidforbessports.wordpress.com
Welcome to the Curry Hicks Cage on the campus of UMass here in Amherst. This evening we have the second semifinal in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 girls tournament.
Monument Mountain upset the top-seeded Palmer Panthers 69-57 in overtime and we should expect another thriller here between the 10-seeded Belchertown Orioles and No. 6 Wahconah.
The Orioles (14-8) toughed their way to “The Cage” by beating No. 7 Athol and No. 2 Commerce on the road. The two victories were by a combine total of three points.
Their opponent, the Warriors out of Dalton, are coming off an upset at Mohawk Trail. Wahconah is 16-6 heading into this semifinal which should begin in around five minutes.
