BRIDGEWATER – Losing a generational high school talent like Shay Bollin to start a season is usually something that would do most teams in, at least for one year.
Bridgewater-Raynham’s girls basketball program faced that challenge pretty well; the Trojans simply handed the keys off to senior captain Kenzie Matulonis. The UNH-commit registered a double-double Thursday night, dropping 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, as Bridgewater-Raynham capped a perfect season by defeating New Bedford, 49-36, in the Southeast Conference title game.
“It was very important,” Matulonis said. “We had the strength, we had the girls, we had that camaraderie. That was the goal. If we couldn’t have the state championship, we were going to go undefeated.”
Due to a medical concern, coupled with the uncertainty of completing a season, Bollin elected to undergo surgery in lieu of playing games. With the loss of its primary star, Bridgewater-Raynham had seemingly suffered a massive hit.
Until late in the first quarter Thursday, it appeared her absence would be the difference between winning a league title and falling short, as New Bedford jumped out to an early 11-8 lead.
However, as the Trojans (12-0) have done all winter, they would answer. Bridgewater-Raynham launched a 10-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to seize momentum while jumping ahead, 18-11, with 5:05 to play in the half.
After a slow start, Matulonis began to find her rhythm during the stretch, as she hit a 3-pointer late in the first.
Late in the half, Matulonis hit her biggest shot of the night, rising up over two defenders from about 25 feet out. The shot fell right through the net, as the Trojans took a 21-13 lead into intermission.
From there, Bridgewater-Raynham would coast to the finish. New Bedford (8-4) would cut it as close as 44-36 in the final minutes, but Trojans junior Amber Silva (10 points) pushed the lead back to double digits with a three-pointer and that was that.
Fiona Kelly tallied 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Trojans.
New Bedford was led by junior guard Quiomarie Vazquez with nine points. Sophomore Vanessa Bucha scored eight for the Whalers.
“These kids are such a determined bunch of individuals,” Bridgewater-Raynham coach Cheryl Seavey said. “They really wanted, in this abbreviated season, to experience the success that we had last year. They knew what it took. They knew they had to be incredibly determined. They had to put in the time, they had to persevere through the ups and downs of COVID. Are we playing? Are we not playing? I’m just so happy for these young ladies, that they just got to play.”
In the game’s final moments, Matulonis stepped to the foul line looking to seal the title, soaking up the moment.
“My number is 24,” Matulonis said through tears. “I always say that I see 24 everywhere. I went to that foul line for the last time with 24 seconds left on the clock. I will remember that. It’s pretty special.”
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February 12, 2021 at 08:28AM
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Bridgewater-Raynham girls complete perfect season - Boston Herald
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