Mansfield Girls Basketball Completes Undefeated League Season

The girls’ basketball team completed the first undefeated Hockomock League season in the program’s history with an impressive 58-45 victory over rival Franklin on Tuesday night at the James Albertini Memorial Gymnasium.

The Hornets officially clinched the Large School Division championship with an exciting 40-37 win in North Attleboro on Sunday night, but waited to cut down one of the nets at the Albertini Gymnasium until they defeated the on Tuesday night.

Along with finishing its first undefeated league campaign, the Hornets also won the first league title in the program’s history this year. The victory over Franklin, the second over the Panthers in a week, allowed Mansfield to remain undefeated on the season as the Hornets improved to 19-0 overall, 13-0 in the league and 8-0 in the division.

“This is a great group of kids who work really hard every day,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Redding. “This is a very good league and to run the table in a tough league like this is a tremendous accomplishment by the kids.”

Franklin, which was still undefeated at this time a week ago, dropped to 14-3 overall, 10-3 in the league and 5-3 in the division. Over the past week, the Panthers have lost two games to the Hornets and also dropped a 47-43 decision to North Attleboro last Friday.

Despite missing the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter with a sprained ankle, senior center Colleen Copley led Mansfield with 20 points, including 14 in the second half. Senior guard Krista Luchette scored 12 points for the Hornets, including seven in the fourth quarter.

Junior guard Michaela Bowes also had eight points and senior captain and guard Kathryn Campbell had seven. Sophomore forward Alicia Kutil led the Panthers with 14 points, while senior forward Ellie Getchell had 12 points.

Holding just a three-point advantage at 30-27 with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter, Mansfield went on an extended 22-8 run during the remainder of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to open up a 17-point lead at 52-35 with 5:26 left in the game.

With a 30-27 lead, the Hornets went on a 7-1 surge to open up a 10-point advantage at 38-28 with 29.3 seconds left in the third. Copley had five points during this surge, while Campbell had a basket and junior guard Tori Shannon had a free throw.

After the Panthers scored the final three points of the quarter to close the gap to seven at 38-31 after three, Mansfield started the fourth quarter on a 14-4 run that allowed the hosts to take full control of the game at 52-35.

Luchette scored all seven of her fourth-quarter points during this surge, while Copley took three points. Senior forward Meghan Keohane and Bowes also gained two points each.

“We were more aggressive going to the basket than they were and did not settle for threes,” said Redding. “We also forced them out on the perimeter more than they wanted to. They do a good job with their press, but we did not turn the ball over a lot in the game. But I felt the difference was our aggressiveness and forcing them out on the perimeter.”

Mansfield will travel to Easton to face Small School Division champion Oliver Ames for the Hockomock League Cup on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.