Senior Night Becomes a Back and Forth Battle - Girls Basketball

The Tigers fought back from an early eight point deficit to start the game and eventually took the lead back going into halftime.
​Ultimately, they could not build on that momentum as Attleboro wins 61-52.

   It was senior night tonight and both teams started off the game with a great show of respect as they each had a senior who was injured that they allowed to score an uncontested basket before calling a timeout and bringing them out of the game. The game then truly started as both teams were in search of their 6th victory of the year. The Bombardiers were led by Jordyn Lako (#12) who had a great night and led all scorers with 23 pts. The Tigers had two players in double figures as So. F Jaelyn Fernandez (#40) had 17 pts and Sr. G Alexa White (#3) poured in 13 pts as well. The game saw both teams go on runs from the 2nd qtr on but unfortunately the Tigers couldn't capitalize on late game mistakes made by their opponent as the Bombardiers won the game 61-52.

    With both teams trading early uncontested baskets, Sr. F Shantel Andrew (#4) who has been out all season with an injury was subbed out of the game to a sea of applaud from the audience. Taunton took an early 5-4 lead as Sr. G Lily Patneaude (#5) hit a three from the top of the key. Lako then hit a three of her own to put Attleboro up 8-5 about a minute later. With about two minutes left in the qtr the ball made its' way to So. F Sonya Fernandez (#23) who made a nice move in the post to get the bucket and cut into Attleboro's eight point 9-17 lead. All things considered the Tigers were giving up some easy buckets which they would certainly correct in the 2nd qtr as the 1st ended with the Bombardiers being up 19-11.

    The 2nd qtr saw Taunton come alive offensively as they started it on a 7-0 run. White hit a mid range 15 seconds into the qtr and Fr. G Abby Souza (#2) made a three from the wing on their next possession. Jaelyn Fernandez capped off the run by making two FTs after she was fouled at the rim trying to finish on a up and under move. The Tigers took a brief lead with about 2:21 left in the 2nd as Sonya Fernandez found a cutting Souza who finished at the rim to make it 25-24 Tigers. Attleboro had an answer though as they scored six quick points of their own to go into halftime with a one point 30-29 lead.

    The Bombardiers struck first in the third as Lako hit a three about 45 seconds into the qtr. The Tigers responded quickly though as Jaelyn Fernandez drove all the way to the rim and finished with a left handed lay-up to make it 33-31 Attleboro. White drilled another three with a little over four minutes remaining in the qtr and Jaelyn followed that up with another lefty layup to make it 37-33 with 2:27 to go. On Tauntons next possession Sonya Fernandez once again found Souza cutting to the rim on a nice bounce pass that gave the Tigers their largest lead of the night at 39-33. But again to end the qtr Attleboro goes on another eight point run to make it 41-39 going into the 4th.

    Attleboro continued their 8-0 run to end the 3rd with four quick points to start the final qtr as they pushed their lead to six. But with just under six minutes to go, it was now Jaelyns turn to find a cutter as she made a nice pass to White who finished at the rim to make it 45-41 Attleboro. Jaelyn continued to drive it to the rim making it 50-43 Attleboro as it felt the Bombardiers had no answer for her left handed finishers. She made things interesting late as she had an AND1 with about 43 seconds left and made her FT to make it 57-48. But both teams would just trade easy baskets with the remaining time as the Bombardiers won the game 61-52.
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    Taunton continued to fight back throughout the game but unfortunately couldn't hold onto the lead they had built in the 3rd qtr. The Tigers will be back in action this Friday, February 15th, as they take on the Mansfield Hornets. Tip off is at 6:30.

Jason Delgado

Jason is a Taunton Alum and sports journalist covering home games and meets at Taunton High School.