GARDNER — A little semblance can go a long way.
With eight players and with multiple varsity starters returning for the Athol girls summer basketball team on Monday’s against Narragansett, Athol turned in its best performance yet, winning 24-21.
“When we get a couple of kids that have played together, it makes a difference,” said Athol coach Tim Cleveland. “They slow down a little bit, take some better shots, play a little better defense and it makes a difference.”
Athol had played with as few as five players at times and with as few as two players with consistent varsity experience. The semblance created the team’s best second-half performance yet of the summer season.
Down 13-9 at half, Athol was instructed to pick up the pace by summer coach Tim Cleveland. The efforts resulted in an 11-0 run to start the second half, moving out front 20-13. The team outscored Narragansett 13-7 during the second half.
“I wanted them to pick up their pace a little and play with some flow,” said Cleveland about the faster pace from Athol in the second half. “We came out and had a really nice basket from Geca (Baptista) and Sophie (Putnam) on a give-and-go type play. That’s what I said they’ve got to do, got to move. We do a lot of standing, waiting for the ball and they started moving a little bit, which created some openings and tried to play some transitioning.”
Putnam began the second half by battling for an offensive rebound and immediately sending the ball out to Baptista, who netted the jumper. Forty seconds later, she tied the game on a basket through the defender and from underneath the rim.
Putnam ended the night tied for a team-high eight points (all coming in the second half) and five rebounds. Taylor Cleveland, daughter to coach Cleveland, had a team-high six rebounds and created a tough post presence when combined with Putnam, which had only been seen once this summer season. The combo largely led to the nine-minute scoring drought from Narragansett to begin the second half.
“Sophie is a strong player, she doesn’t give herself enough credit,” said Tim Cleveland. “She’s actually a very strong player. She’ll get the rebounds and she’ll get the put-backs.”
Narragansett pulled the game to within two at 20-18 with 10 minutes and 12 seconds remaining on a basket from underneath the hoop. After both teams went scoreless for almost six minutes, Putnam fought through two defenders to net the ball from underneath the hoop. Athol’s Haley Bigwood secured the win with a mid-range jumper just 22 seconds later and with four minutes and seven seconds left in the game.
Narragansett pulled within three with 47 seconds left in the game and had the opportunity to tie at the 12 seconds mark, but missed the tying 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
Baptista contributed eight points for Athol along with three rebounds. Emma Bacigalupo had four points and three rebounds, while Lilly King and Bigwood each had four rebounds.