Mansfield Girls' Basketball Loses to North Attleboro, 49-43

The Mansfield varsity girls basketball team lost to North Attleboro, 49-43, Tuesday night at home. 

Mansfield's offense could not push through North Attleboro in the first half, only scoring six points in the first period and four in the second. North Attleboro took advantage of their defense and scored a total of 23 points in the first half.

“They have the size advantage for the man to man,” Mansfield head coach Mike Redding said. “It was like everything was three quarter speed, not full speed.”

Mansfield couldn't get in the paint for layups and missed too many three pointers to make any difference. The half ended, 23-10, with North Attleboro leading.

The third period stared with much of the same, but two minutes into the period Mansfield began to get their offense in line.

“Our seniors stepped up at halftime and got us going,” Redding said. “We hung around and had a chance there and were a couple of baskets away from maybe stealing it.”

North Attleboro’s defense began to weaken while Mansfield started to figure them out. They scored 17 points to North Attleboro’s 14, and began to make some leeway against the Red Rocketteers. From 3:40 to the end of the period, Mansfield’s defense only let North Attleboro score one foul shot and one basket.

“We got good momentum going into the second half,” Redding said.

Mansfield started off the fourth period with a basket and two three pointers from Michaela Bowes, making the score, 41-35, in North Attleboro's favor.

The last minute was the longest of the game, with both sides racking up the fouls for extra shots. Mansfield was able to close North’s lead to six during the period, but North was able to answer enough times, if not as frequently, to keep the lead.

Mansfield Michaela Bowes led the Hornets in scoring with 16 points. Jessica Stoyle hit for nine points during the game, followed by Erin Glavin with six and Julie Campbell with five. Victoria Shannon hit a three point shot, and Kelly English and Gina Stoyle each hit a layup during the game.

MHS girls varsity basketball is currently 8-6 overall and 7-3 in the league. They play at King Philip away Friday.