SPORTS

Bolts fall short in quarters

Posted 2/23/22

By ALEX SPONSELLER The seventh-seeded Cranston East girls basketball team fell to No. 2 Juanita Sanchez 54-27 in the quarterfinals on Monday night. The Juanita Sanchez played aggressive throughout the matchup to stifle the East offense, which never got

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SPORTS

Bolts fall short in quarters

Posted

By ALEX SPONSELLER The seventh-seeded Cranston East girls basketball team fell to No. 2 Juanita Sanchez 54-27 in the quarterfinals on Monday night.

The Juanita Sanchez played aggressive throughout the matchup to stifle the East offense, which never got into a rhythm and fell behind early.

“Their defense was very good tonight and I think our guard play could’ve been a lot better. We got into some foul trouble, Aydan Gulliver and Thamia Perez, which I think prevented them from being more aggressive. (Juanita Sanchez) went out and played really good defense, in the playoffs, defense is how you get over that hump,” said East coach Jhamal Diggs.

Trinity Saab and Kathy Hernandez led East with seven points scored. Genesis McNeill led the Cavs with 19 points.

This was the second straight year that East reached the quarterfinals round after having a few down seasons prior. Diggs was proud of the club’s turnaround these past two years and is excited with the large volume of underclassmen set to return next winter.

“Two years in a row getting to the quarterfinals, I think that is huge for this program. Last year we had to win six games in a row and then we did, so it was almost like winning seven straight playoff games. Then to get back here this season, it’s great for their confidence. We have a lot of young girls that are going to get back to work to get to the semis. We just need to keep working, step by step,” Diggs said.

Diggs will also miss his senior class, which was led by Hernandez, who has been a key member of the team’s resurgence at the point guard position.

“I told them, I wouldn’t want to go to war with any other unit. I’d take these girls over anybody, any day. This team is super talented and I’m excited to see what comes in the future,” said Diggs. “Kathy has been a huge player for the last three years. I think she’s one of the best ball handlers in the state. We’re going to miss her. It’ll be up to the younger girls to step up.”

Despite the loss, East was still in the running for a state tournament seeding as of Tuesday morning.

East, basketball, girls basketball

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