Mansfield Girls' Basketball Team Ready for Dartmouth

There will be no need for introductions tonight when the Dartmouth High girls’ basketball team shows up in Mansfield for the first round of the Division 1 South tournament.

Less two weeks ago, the two teams played a thrilling 51-50 win by Mansfield on a last second drive to the basketball by Kathryn Campbell in the first round of the Mansfield Roundball Tournament.

Dartmouth got the rematch with Mansfield by beating Barnstable, 60-46, in the preliminary round Monday night.

Mansfield is bringing a 21-1 record into the game, while Dartmouth is 9-6.

Five keys to the game:

1. The Hornets have to stop Dartmouth’s Molly Brown, who is a 1,000-point scorer. Brown is capable of shooting her team into an upset. Brown is a dangerous 3-pointer shooter and had 20-points against Barnstable. Mansfield has to cover her all over the court. Hornet head coach Mike Redding said there was no limit to Brown’s shooting range.

2. Mansfield will have to handle Dartmouth’s pressure, led by pesky guard Darian Silva. The point-guard is tough defender and can also score for Dartmouth. She had 16 points against Barnstable.

3. Will the Hornets be rusty after a week off? The Hornets were busy going into their Mansfield Roundball Tournament, so the break could have a good thing. Their only loss of the season came to Oliver Ames in the Hockomock Classic, the game before the Dartmouth clash. Mansfield needed a rest, but will it turn out to be a good thing for them?

4. Mansfield has been here before after winning the Division 1 South title last year. Redding played a lot of players last year, wearing down opponents and that experience could pay off. Michaela Bowes showed last year she could make the clutch shots in pressure situations.

5. How much will the home court be advantage for the Hornets? Mansfield is unbeaten at home, but Dartmouth has played in the Mansfield Roundball Tournament for about five years, so they will be no strangers to the Hornets’ home.

Dartmouth Roster-

4. Lauren Pires

5. Frances Pontes

10.Carly Johnson

11. Sierra Santos

12. Kadi Souza

14. Brooke Avila

15. Ally Pontes

22. Caisle Cadorette

32. Darian Silva

33.  Morgan Gidley

35. Colby Brooks

44. Molly Brown

Head coach: Jeff Hoyle

Mansfield Roster-

3. Kelli McPherson

4. Bridget Davis

5. Victoria Shannon

11. Colleen Copley

13. Jenna Morizo

14. Krista Luchette

21. Julie Campbell

22. Michaela Bowes

23. Katherine Campbell

24. Meghan Keohane

30. Gina Stoyle

32. Kelly English

34. Kaitlyn McCarthy

35. Kathryn Campbell

Head coach-Mike Redding