Middleborough v. Dartmouth: Surgical Sachem

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Middleborough High ended their regular season with a 65-58 overtime win against Dartmouth High. These two teams matched up well, and the game featured multiple big offensive nights for both teams. A Dartmouth three with seconds remaining sent the game to overtime, but Middleborough’s tough defense and offensive execution led to them outscoring Dartmouth 13-6 in the extra frame. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Player of the Game: </strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-393137" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/8975421B-FFDD-47B0-8183-694989EB4D1E-scaled-crop-1852x1216-1645899026-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="263929" first="Riley" last="Griffin"] - Middleborough - 5’8’’ - PG - ’22</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Griffin was surgical in the 4th quarter and overtime dissecting the Dartmouth defense in the halfcourt. Her court vision and passing, particularly in pick and roll sets, were a thing of beauty. Griffin’s execution was top notch from the way she attacks off the screen to her accurate bounce passes. She scored 16 points and hit big three-pointers in high leverage situations for Middleborough. She used her size and athleticism to her advantage all game long and was too much for Dartmouth to handle. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Middleborough Standouts: </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="183919" first="Alex" last="Williams"] - 5’10’’ - SG/SF - ’22</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Williams put up a monster stat line, proving her dominance as a two-way wing. She registered 14 Points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks. Williams’ versatility on defense and ability to secure the paint and perimeter helps anchor the gritty Middleborough defense. She also hit big shots in overtime and dominated the glass on both ends. You couldn’t ask for a better all-around performance from a player. </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="393140" first="Shaunna" last="Gallagher"] - 5’9’’ - SF/PF - ’22</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Gallagher poured in a quiet team-high 19 points, and it was because she did most of her damage around the basket, off second-chance opportunities, and at the free-throw line. There was nothing flashy about Gallagher’s game, but she was highly effective and took advantage of every scoring opportunity she had. She benefited in the pick and roll, with [player_tooltip player_id="263929" first="Riley" last="Griffin"] showing her great hands and finishing ability numerous times in the second half. Gallagher also absorbs contact well and isn’t afraid to be physical down low despite being undersized for the power forward position. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Dartmouth Standouts :</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="302487" first="Kat" last="Cheesebro"] - 5’8’’ - CG - ’25</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Cheesebro is a name to keep on your radar all spring and summer. She has been putting up monster offensive numbers this season for Dartmouth, and after watching her in person, I was impressed with her efficiency. Cheesebro put up points from all three levels and totaled a game-high 25, including the three-pointer that sent the game into overtime. She was crafty getting to the rim and had a diverse finishing package. Cheesebro is also very effective in the mid-range and successfully made shots off the bounce all afternoon. </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="263936" first="Kasey" last="Oliver"] - 5’6’’ - PG - ’22</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oliver and [player_tooltip player_id="302487" first="Kat" last="Cheesebro"] made a nice 1-2 scoring punch Wednesday afternoon and gave the Middleborough defense fits all game. She was second on the team with 19 points and nailed 2 three-pointers. I thought Oliver played a good game off the ball and showed that she does not have to be the primary ball-handler to put the ball in the hole. It was hard for Middleborough to match her quickness and speed on the perimeter, and Oliver had several blow bys on the wing and got to the rim easily. </span> &nbsp;