Girls Basketball: Falcons Start Season with a Win

Cranston West visited Burrillville High School on Thursday in the first game of the season for both squads. The Falcons scored fifteen unanswered points following the tip-off and never looked back, defeating the Broncos 55-41.

Cranston West started off hot from the field, connecting on their first three attempts. Their interior defense and rebounding propelled their fast break and led to a couple of easy baskets in the early going. Ailis Hanley and Caroline Decataldo controlled the boards and accounted for 6 in the fifteen-point run by the Falcons. Courtney Lambrese ran the offense to perfection during the run with five points and two assists.

The Broncos finally scored from the field with eight minutes remaining the half, when Victoria Libby knocked down a 12-footer to make it 21-5 Falcons.

The second unit for Cranston West traded baskets with the Broncos in the first half, but once the starters returned, the Falcons stretched their lead to 21 at halftime, at 35-14.

The first unit for Cranston West started the second half and padded the lead to 51-23 with 9:30 remaining in the game. The big lead enabled Falcons Head Coach Martin Crowley to play his entire squad in the first game of the season.

"We play fifteen kids. And everyone got a chance to play and get their feet wet. And it was nice to get some of their nerves out," Crowley said.

Burrillville outscored the Falcons 18-4 after the Cranston West starters exited, but the game was never in question, as the final buzzer gave Cranston West its first win of the season, 55-41.

Stout defense and quick ball movement were key in the Falcons victory.

"I liked the way we came out with intensity. We played great defense from the start and I thought we were very unselfish. We moved the ball very well and did a good job getting out in transition." Crowley said. 

The rebounding of Ailis Hanley and Caroline Decataldo was paramount in limiting the number of shot attempts for the Broncos, while also giving the Falcons an opportunity to get some easy baskets on the other end. 

"We controlled the boards. And that's what we try to tell the kids. If we control the boards we can control the game. And they did that tonight," Crowley said.

Sophomore Guard Courtney Lambrese led the Falcons in scoring with 15, while adding five assists. And Senior Captain Caroline Decataldo finished with ten points from her forward position.

Next up for Cranston West are cross-town rivals Cranston East. Like the Burrillville game, this will also be a non-league matchup, as the Thunderbolts play in Division II while the Falcons are in Division I.

Burrillville falls to 0-1 after the non-league game against West. Victoria Libby and Emma Lapierre combined for 24 points in the loss. The Broncos will have another chance to get in the win column on Wednesday when they host Mount St. Charles.