Bombardiers Declaw Panthers, Attleboro 81-Franklin 67

It was a night of opportunity for the Bombardiers.  An opportunity to move up in the Hockomock League standings, an opportunity to avenge an earlier 2 point loss to Franklin and an opportunity to show Blue Pride!  The outcome proved to be a banner night for the Bombardiers and a great team effort, with five players scoring in double figures.

Bri LaPlume, working hard inside as she has done all season, put Attleboro on the scoreboard first with 2 free throws.  Franklin knotted the score and that was the last time they were to come within reach of the high scoring Bombardiers.  Free throws by Kerri Beland and Beth Clifton put Attleboro in front, 6-4.  A Clifton 2 and 3-4 free throw shooting by Emily Houle extended the lead to 11-5.  A 3 by Houle and back to back baskets by Beland increased the lead to 10.  A put back by Sarah Deyo ended the quarter with Attleboro holding a 20-11 lead.

Houle opened the second quarter with a 3 and a reverse layup by LaPlume gave Attleboro a 25-11 advantage.  Four Franklin free throws cut into that advantage but another offensive rebound and score by Deyo gave the Bombardiers a 27-15 lead.  A Panther 3 narrowed the margin but 2 free throws by Deyo and Houle, baskets by Kim Runey and Beland put Attleboro in front by 10, while Franklin could only manage 2 free throws.  Deyo hit the front end of 2 free throws and then followed with 3, the old fashioned way.  Runey hit from behind the arc as the buzzer ended the first half and Attleboro held a 42-27 edge.

Attleboro came out strong in the second half, with Houle opening up the scoring.  Beland matched a Franklin basket but the Panthers scored the next 6 points, before Clifton was successful from inside.  LaPlume was fouled on a made basket and followed with a free throw.  Beland finished out the quarter with 8 more points and a Houle 3 gave Attleboro a 64-47 lead.

Clifton put Attleboro on the scoreboard first, in the final quarter, with a reverse layup. Franklin managed a 3 and a free throw, bringing the score to 66-51.  LaPlume followed with 2 free throws and a Clifton power move to the hoop gave the Bombardiers a 70-53 lead.  LaPlume hit the front end of a 1 and 1 and a Franklin 3 brought the Panthers to within 10 of the Bombardiers, the closest they were to get for the remainder of the game.  With time running out Franklin was forced to foul.  Kerri Beland went 8-8, from the charity stripe, in the final 1:48 of the game, and the Bombardiers secured an 81-67 victory.

Beland led all scorers and reached a career high with 26 points, added 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. She shot a sizzling 7-10 from the floor and hit all 12 of her free throw attempts.  Houle matched a career high 18 points and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Clifton followed with 12 points and LaPlume chipped in with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Deyo rounded out the double figure scoring for the Bombardiers with 10 points.

The win moved Attleboro into a tie for second place, with Franklin, in the Kelly-Rex division.  The Bombardiers will take their 15-5 record to Durfee on Monday, for a non league 7:00 game.  They will conclude regular season play at home on Tuesday, when they entertain Needham.