ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Lead by junior Kerri Beland, the Attleboro High School Lady Bombardiers took back the lead in the fourth quarter of a very tight game and went on to defeat the Durfee Lady Hilltoppers, 50-43 on Monday.
Beland had eight points, six of which came off free throws, in the final minutes of the game which helped Attleboro retake the lead against Durfee and then start to pull away in what had been very much a nail biter up until this point.
On the other end of the ball, JLynn Jackson shined for the Lady Hilltoppers on both sides of the ball, leading the team in rebounds (12) while also scoring 13 points.
In the first quarter, the Lady Bombardiers came out with the early lead thanks to some key shots from Kimi Runey and Emily Houle. But Durfee was quick to respond, shooting much on a team effort, between Jackson, Paulina Feitleberg and Jordyn Gauvin, all of which shared the offensive load in the opening quarter, and were key in bringing the Lady Hilltoppers within two of Attleboro as the quarter came to a close.
Durfee took the lead about midway through the second quarter off after a few misses and offensive rebounds when Feitleberg found the hoop to make it 15-14 in favor of the Hilltoppers. A steal by Brianna Camara set up a three for Feitleberg only seconds lead to increase the lead to four. The largest lead Durfee reached in the quarter was when a layup by Nicole Emsley put them up by six, but the Lady Bombardiers would soon respond when Runey’s layup brought them within four, and two free throw attempts for both Beland and Houle resulted in three points, though still not enough to draw even as Durfee held a narrow 22-19 lead going into the half.
Throughout the third quarter, Durfee would hold the lead but Attleboro was never out of it, never letting Durfee’s lead exceed seven., As the final quarter progressed, fouls became a big issue for Durfee, as several fouls by a handful of players, including Gauvin who fouled out about midway through. After the Lady Hilltoppers took a 39-32 lead by a shot from Emsley, Runey would strike a three on the other end to bring the Bombardiers back within four, and a shot from inside the paint by Houle would bring them within two.
Beland tied the game on two free throw attempts after being fouled on by Gauvin, which sent her out of the game. Shortly after, she was fouled by Camara, and successfully converted two more free throw attempts to take the lead. Almost immediately after, she was fouled by Feitleberg and scored two more free throws, and Attleboro held on the rest of the way.
The Lady Bombardiers return to action Friday in more non-league action as they travel to in-town rivals Bishop Feehan.
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