HYANNIS – The Whiteley sisters combined last night for 20 points and 21 rebounds as the dynamic siblings paced their St. John Paul II girls’ basketball team over Diman Voke, 51-30, in the opening round of the MIAA Division 4 South Sectionals.
The St. John Paul II Lions dispatched Diman Voke last night, 51-30, but face a tough, 20-0 Greater New Bedford Voke team in the Division 4 South quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports file photo
Sophomore Kaia Whiteley netted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while her older sister Hayley Whiteley, a senior co-captain, factored in with eight points and 11 rebounds on the night.
While the lead for the host Lions was never truly in doubt after staging a 16-6 first quarter edge, things got slightly off-balance in the second frame as Diman Voke’s girls came storming back within one possession at the intermission, the Lions just ahead, 21-19.
After a halftime adjustment or two and a firm pep talk from head coach Mike Tierney, the Lions opened up a third quarter can of how-do-you-do, outscoring Diman, 13-4, for a 34-23 third quarter lead.
“We played great defense except in the second quarter,” first-year helmsman Tierney said. “We pulled way in the third and fourth. We had a really nice crowd for both teams, but we showed some nerves in the second quarter.”
Kaia Whiteley scored half of her 12-point output in the third frame, banging home a pair of critical three-pointers to pave the attack.
Diman’s Katie McDonnell was the game’s high scorer with 16 points.
St. John Paul II sophomore guard Jess Tierney had one of her best performances of the season, dumping in 10 points while dishing out nine assists. Seven of Tierney’s 10 points came in the fourth quarter.
The Lions’ Olivia Bengston also put on quite a show, pouring in 11 points to go along with seven steals on defense and seven rebounds. Junior co-captain Tori Gibson, played solidly with eight points and seven rebounds as well.
Led by Tierney’s seven points in the fourth frame, the hosts outscored Diman 16-7 en route to the 51-30 finale.
The draw for the Lions in the upcoming Division 4 South Quarterfinals – to be held Saturday at 3:00 pm on the road – could not be more challenging for the Blue and Gold.
The Lions will head to the bright lights, big city of New Bedford where they will face the unbeaten Greater New Bedford Voke girls (20-0) who have beaten the Lions twice this season already.
“That’s why we scheduled them twice this year,” Tierney said. “We have to play well to have a chance.”
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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