Tiverton girls basketball team beat Mt. Hope 40-29 in a physical division II match up at Mt. Hope High School on Friday night. The game featured tough defensive play between the east bay rivals. Bodies crashed under the basket vying for rebounds and they hit the floor in the front court as both teams set traps and made steals. The win evened the Tigers record at 3-3 and dropped the Huskies record to 1-7. 

“We are starting to turn the corner a little bit and things are falling into place,” said Tiverton head coach Craig Giarrusso. The Tigers loss to East Providence and Juanita Sanchez early in the season, but have come on strong of late winning three of four with a two game winning streak. 

Junior guard Sam Bettencourt scored 7 of her game high 14 points in the first half as the Tigers led 14-8 at halftime. Jenna Deldeo, Ava Guarneri and Abby Monkevicz each netted 2 points and Katie Richardson added a free throw for the Tigers. Bettencourt hit a big three in the first quarter and made two layups off steals from the Tigers press in the second quarter. 

“Sam has been tremendous,” said Coach Giarrusso. “She runs our offense. “Molly and Emma also both played well.”

Junior forward Reyn Ferris, Shivani Mehta, Mia Padula and Lauren Clarke-Pais each scored a basket as Mt. Hope kept the score close in the first half. The Huskies played well defensively with Ferris and Clarke-Pais setting the tone under the Mt. Hope basket, but front court turnovers and a lack of outside shooting hindered the Mt. Hope offense. 

“The shots just weren’t there tonight,” said Mt. Hope head coach Katie Kline. Everyone is going to have an off night. I said to the team that we can’t rely just on just one or two players… We just need to make sure that we are stepping up when needed.” 

Lopes heats up in third quarter

Tigers senior forward Emma Lopes got hot and took over the game in the third quarter as Tiverton ran out to a 25-14 lead. Lopes scored all 8 of her points working the ball inside and putting back layups. Tigers guard Abby Monkevicz also added a three pointer in the quarter. 

“We reflected during halftime on what we had to do and came out on fire,” said Lopes, a co-captain with Molly Richardson and Lily Keating. “We were pumped up and we worked better as a team. Dribbling with our heads up, seeing the inside post players. That’s what helped me and the team pull away in the third quarter.” 

For Mt. Hope, Aditi Mehta, Emily Moran and Clarke-Pais each netted 2 points in the third quarter.

The Huskies kept grinding and saved their best quarter for last as they came storming back to make it, 35-29 with 1:15 to play. Huskies sophomore guard Elsa White couldn’t buy a basket for the first three quarters suddenly found her shot. The three sport athlete hit two big three pointers, a jumper and a foul shot for 9 points. Ferris added a layup and two free throws and Aditi Mehta added her second jumper. 

“Those shots that Elsa hit really helped us,” said Coach Kline. “Reyn has been averaging at least 15 rebounds a game. Her height really helps her she just gets the ball and puts it right back up. She’s definitely a big player for us under the basket. Aditi and Shivani Mehta are super quick. They are our biggest defenders. With their speed they can get up the court and stop a fast break. That helps us a lot. They can also get a fast break for us. Shivani had one of those tonight.” 

Bettencourt kept the Huskies from getting any closer scoring 7 points in the fourth. Molly Richardson, Mackenzie Oliveira and Monkevicz each added a bucket. Bettencourt hit three of four from the line down the stretch to extend the lead in the final minute of play. Tiverton hot off their two game winning streak has lofty goals this season as they embark on twelve league games in a row.
“We are hoping to get to the championship,” said Molly Richardson who’s volleyball team lost to Narragansett in the D-IV final. “We have so much ability and potential on the team. We just have to figure out how to use it. We are definitely getting there.” 

“We all work really well together and we are a good team,” added Lily Keating. “We have the potential to go really far.” 

 Tiverton scoring: Sam Bettencourt scored 14 points, Emma Lopes 8 points, Abby Monkevicz scored 7, Jenna Deldeo, Molly Richardson, Mackenzie Oliveira and Ava Guarneri each scored 2, Katie Richardson scored 1.

Mt. Hope scoring: Elsa White scored 9 points, Reyn Ferris scored 6, Aditi Mehta and Lauren Clarke-Pais each scored 4, Emily Moran, Shivani Mehta and Mia Padula each scored 2.