The Tiverton girls' basketball team is heading to the Division 2 championship game after edging Coventry 47-45 in an intense, physical battle of a semifinals game on Tuesday night. Jah’niece Branch scored with four seconds left to give the Tigers a slim two-point lead and send the packed crowd into a frenzy. The senior center ripped the ball from a pair of Coventry defenders after Tori Murray’s drive to the basket bounced off the rim and back onto the floor. Branch turned, drove hard to the basket and netted a one-handed layup off the backboard for the game winner. Branch scored 15 points to lead the Tigers in the victory. 

“That last bucket was exciting,” Branch said after the game. “I was nervous but, I knew we could beat them. The second half was tough for us. We were tired. We got into foul trouble. But we never gave up. 

“We’ve been working towards this goal every game of the season,” said Cami Oliveira. “It feels great to get for Jah’neice’s last year to get her to the AMP.”

The 13-6 Tigers will face The Lincoln School in the division championship at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence on Thursday, March, 5, at 6 p.m.  Assistant coaches Mariah Caldwell and Rachel Motta have been pressed into head coach duty as Mike Brigham is recovering from a knee surgery. 

 

Tigers took a 24-16 lead at halftime

Tiverton came out strong in the first half, fighting through the Oakers full court press to take a 24-16 lead at halftime. Sharp shooting guard Cami Oliveira scored eight of her 12 points. Branch also scored eight points, while blocking shots and pulling down rebounds at both ends of the court. Sara Poland knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for six points and guards Tori Murray and Bea Pimentel each added a free throw as they kept driving towards the basket and collecting fouls. 

“This is what we had been working for all season,” Pimentel said. “We worked hard together. I took a few hard fouls getting to the foul line. I was nervous, but I knew we needed it to win. We brought our energy back up and we came together as a team.”

 

Lead evaporates as feisty Oakers score 15 points in the third quarter

Tiverton’s lead evaporated in the third quarter. The feisty Oakers outscored the Tigers 15-3 to take a 31-27 lead into the final quarter. Tiverton’s frustration grew as they had trouble navigating Coventry’s press. They turned the ball over repeatedly and had several players in foul trouble as the three-headed referee crew called illegal screens and other fouls not called during the regular season. 

 

Every possession counted in the fourth quarter

Every possession counted in the fourth quarter. The tough Tigers composed themselves and scored 20 fourth quarter points. Branch was clutch when it counted, netting seven huge points. Tori Murray drained a huge 3-pointer and added a layup for five points. Pimental was the key as Coventry double-teamed Oliveira every possession. She relentlessly drove to the basket and got to the foul line. The junior guard went six of ten from the free-throw line for six of her seven points in the fourth quarter. The junior guard sank a pair of free throws to give the Tigers their first lead 32-31 with seven minutes to play. 

Tiverton held leads of 37-33 and 40-35, but the Oakers fought back to tie the game 43-43 with 1:39 remaining in the game. Pimentel drained a pair of free-throws and broke the tie again, giving Tiverton a 45-43 advantage with 40 seconds to play. But Coventry’s Addison Kerwin tied it again, 45-45. Coventry again put on a full court press as Tiverton inbounded the ball with 16 seconds left. The Tigers passed the ball through the Oakers press and got it into the hands of Murray, who dribbled by a defender and broke for the basket. A defender swiped at the ball as she drove to the hoop. It clanged off the rim and dropped to the floor. Branch scooped it up, shook off a pair of defenders and drove to the hoop for the game winner. 

“That one felt good,” said Branch. “I saw my mom behind the baseline jumping up and down with my face on that poster. I was happy with that.” 

Branch said that she feels confident, but nervous for the championship game. 

“I feel good. Just some nerves. But, it’s the good kind.”