GARDNER — The Athol girls summer basketball team struggled on Wednesday, losing 34-18 to Quabbin in the Gardner summer basketball league.
Offensively, Athol couldn’t do much, netting only five first-half points and netting consecutive baskets only once throughout the contest.
Athol did look more comfortable as the game went on however, netting 13 second-half points despite the loss.
“Yeah, I mean, most of (the team) hasn’t ever played with each other,” said Athol coach Tim Cleveland. “One has never played basketball at all. Then you’ve got three middle schoolers, so they’ve just got to figure out how to play together. They’re all pretty athletic, so they’ll be alright.”
Athol’s offense came from two players: 10 points from Geca Baptista and eight from Reily Polana.
“Geca has been playing for a long time,” said Cleveland. “She’s going to be a junior, so she’s going to have to step up and be a leader. She’s going to have to step up and knock down some threes with a little consistency. She will. Reily, (as an) eighth-grader coming in, she’s going to have to be a shooter. She’s going to have to step up.”
Polana put her team up 2-0 with a long jumper just within the arc to begin the game. It was the only lead Athol maintained in the contest.
Quabbin then held Athol scoreless for just under 10 minutes, mounting an 8-2 lead in the process. Baptista ended the drought with a three from the top of the arc to move within 8-5 with 5:17 left in the first half. Quabbin ended the half on a 4-0 run to go up 12-5.
Polana netted another long jumper to cut the deficit to seven at 14-7 with 18:01 left in the second half. Quabbin then went on a 6-0 run to go up 20-7.
Athol had a glimpse of solid offensive output midway through the second half. Baptista netted a jumper with 11:32 to go in the half. After Quabbin got the rebound and basket, Polana hit a jumper followed by a three from Baptista to put Athol on a 7-2 run.
After the two teams traded points, moving the game to 24-16, Quabbin went on a 10-2 run within the final 5:07 to win 34-18. The only points Athol generated during that span was on a steal by Polana that she ended up taking all the way to the hoop for the layup.