Girls basketball: Defense helps South Hadley smother Pope Francis in Div. 4 tourney (PHOTOS)

By KYLE GRABOWSKI

Staff Writer

Published: 03-02-2023 7:39 PM

SOUTH HADLEY – Facing Pope Francis for the second time in three games allowed the South Hadley girls basketball team to rectify mistakes.

The Tigers fell against the Cardinals in Springfield during the Western Massachusetts Class B quarterfinals Feb. 20 but hosted the rematch in Thursday’s MIAA Division 4 Round of 32.

“The last game left a chip on our shoulder,” South Hadley junior Drew Alley said. “We came in with a lot of motivation.”

That translated to defensive intensity. The No. 16 Tigers held the No. 17 Cardinals to a season-low 27 points in a 41-27 victory.

South Hadley (14-7) will face either No. 1 Cathedral or No. 32 Hampshire Regional, which defeated Lynn Tech on Wednesday to reach the Round of 32. They play at 5 p.m. Friday for a spot in the Round of 16.

Pope Francis (17-4) had scored at least 47 points in every game prior.

South Hadley threw different looks at the Cardinals, alternating its press intensity and swapping between zone coverages and guarding match ups.

“They call a timeout to try and beat one, and we’ll come out in something different,” South Hadley coach Paul Dubuc said.

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The Tigers didn’t allow double digits points in any quarter or more than eight points in a quarter. They built a 21-11 advantage in the second quarter and held Pope Francis at arm’s length for most of the game. The Cardinals scored just four points in the second quarter.

“If we don’t start well, it’s harder for us to get into our groove. When we come out strong it’s easier for us to stay strong the entire game and stay focused,” South Hadley senior Kacie Levrault said. “Our focus was much better in this game than the last game we played them.”

South Hadley relinquished a four-point lead in the previous 30 seconds of the previous matchup but never let Pope Francis that close this time around. Isabella Meadows sank two free throws t0 bring the Cardinals within six 33-27 with 4 minutes, 17 seconds left.

The Cardinals didn’t score again, and the Tigers ended the game on an 8-0 run.

Alley and Levrault co-led South Hadley with nine points each, while Alex Jackson and CC Gurek added seven each.

South Hadley made 11-of-14 free throws.

The Tigers are in the Round of 16 for the second year in a row. They reached last season’s Final Four.

“We didn’t make it all the way last year. That’s definitely our goal,” Alley said. “This is one step closer.”

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.]]>