Girls Basketball: Falcons show flashes of greatness in season-opener

DIGHTON - If the Falcons can play 40 minutes like they played during a three-minute stretch in the fourth quarter Friday night, the South Coast Conference better be on alert.

D-R trailed by 11, 35-24, entering the fourth quarter against Bishop Stang Friday night and eventually cut the deficit down to nine on a jump shot by freshman Ella Damon with 5:41 left in the game and the Spartans ahead 38-29. For the next three and a half minutes, the Falcons soared high, racing to a 9-2 run to make it a two-point game with two minutes left. D-R stumbled in the final minutes with some missed shots, and Bishop Stang pulled away for the 45-38 win in the season-opener for both teams.

“I like the way we grew up a little bit, especially in the second half,” D-R coach Chris Perron said after the game. “I think we have a pretty good set-up for the future if we keep improving every game. This team has a lot of heart, a lot of toughness and a lot of fight, and they showed it tonight.”

The Falcons (0-1) will look to get back on track next Friday night when they travel to Fairhaven at 6:30 p.m.

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Junior guard Emily D’Ambrosio put the Falcons on her back and almost carried them to victory with a 20-point scoring effort that included some solid defensive play as well. When the SCC All-Star from a year ago wasn’t attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line (8-of-9), she was scoring from the perimeter (two three-pointers) and helping break the Stang press. “Emily was terrific and she played with a lot of poise,” Perron said. “She was handling the ball well and making good shot decisions, all while giving us outstanding on-ball defense.”

SENIOR LEADS THE WAY: Senior captain Meg Reed didn’t jump out in the scorebook with three points, but she led the team in rebounds and played a key spot in helping the Falcons break the Stang press. “She got into some foul trouble in the first half, but even when she wasn’t in the game, she was constantly communicating with the girls on the floor making sure they’re in the right spots,” Perron said. “There was really good leadership from her and Emily tonight.”

NEW SEASON, NEW COACH: Friday night was Perron’s first game as the Falcons coach after taking over for longtime coach Deb Charette. He comes to Dighton-Rehoboth after 15 years as head coach at North Attleboro High School and was also an assistant at Bridegwater State University. “I’m real proud to be the head coach of this team,” he said. “Expect to see us pressing and running, trying to score on layups and fast breaks. We’re a team that’s going to fight to the end and never give up. … Deb was a tremendous coach, the girls played very hard for her. I certainly want to make Deb’s legacy, what she started here, continue into the future.”

BISHOP STANG COACH JULIE LOTERNEAU: “D-R has great kids, hard-nosed players and an experienced coach. They fought back a few times tonight and had great post play. They’re definitely someone to contend with over the next two-three years.”

QUICK HITS: Perron credited sophomores Briana Malguti and Caroline Reed for having strong games in the season-opener. “Caroline came off the bench and had a few baskets. She played with a lot of poise,” he said. “Briana had an early turnover but shook it off with a big three-pointer and some solid minutes.” … Friday night was a matchup of new coaches as both Perron and Loterneau were making their debuts on the bench. Loterneau took over for longtime Spartans coach Eric Le Vie this season. … Malguti injured her knee in the second half and had to leave the game. The sophomore guard is a key cog in the D-R offense, so Perron is hoping she’ll be back soon. … Junior guard Abby Fernandes led the Spartans with 19 points. … Both teams had freshmen in the starting lineup: Damon for D-R and Bridget Markey for Spartans. Markey finished with six points, including scoring Stang’s last five points of the game after D-R cut the deficit down to two. “The girls played really hard-nosed,” Loterneau said. “We’ve thrown a lot at them with a new coach and a new system and they’ve responded so well.” … Perron said one thing the Falcons will work on this week is foul shooting. While D’Ambrosio was 8-for-9 from the charity stripe, the rest of the team was 5-for-17. … D-R has only eight players on the team, and Meghan Reed is the only senior. … Next Friday’s game is the first of three straight conference matchups for the Falcons. After the Blue Devils, they will face Wareham and Apponequet before meeting Bishop Stang again on Jan. 6.

BISHOP STANG 45, DIGHTON-REHOBOTH 38
Bishop Stang         9 14 12 10-45
Dighton-Rehoboth 4 11   9 14-38
Scoring
Bishop Stang: Bridget Markey 6, Michelle King 7, Lily Shields 5, Elanor Senna 6, Morgyn Riedel 2, Abby Fernandes 19.
Dighton-Rehoboth: Briana Malguti 4, Jenna Kelley 2, Ella Damon 2, Emily D’Ambrosio 20, Megan Reilly 3, Caroline Reed 4, Meghan Reed 3
3-point goals: Bishop Stang-Shields, Fernandes 2; Dighton-Rehoboth-Malaguti, D’Ambrosio 2.