HYANNIS ─ What a difference a year can make.
The last time the Barnstable High girls’ basketball team met the always-tough New Bedford Whalers, the Red Raiders were on the wrong end of a 36-22 loss.
Friday night at the BHS Gymnasium, 2nd year head coach Vanessa Cedrone’s girls in Red & White played a relentless defensive game to take a season-opening win, 39-21.
“Our kids played really hard,” Cedrone said. “They fought for every loose ball and played with a lot of intensity.”
Barnstable senior forward Mia Crawley and six-foot 8th grade forward Carly Whiteside ─ playing in her first-ever varsity game ─ both had 11 points on the night to pace the Red Raiders to victory.
But it was senior co-captain Molly Tilton, however, who spelled the difference in just how effective Barnstable’s defense was against the usually speedy and sure-handed Whalers.
Tilton virtually shut down New Bedford’s star player, Cassie White.
“Scoring from the wing and the post was a big help,” Cedrone said. “But Molly Tilton played great on defense against their best player.”
Last season in the Red Raider girls’ home opener, Brockton crushed Barnstable, 69-11. Last night’s season-opening win against a similarly formidable opponent was exceptionally gratifying Cedrone said.
“It was a really nice way to start the season.”