PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Pittsfield girls basketball team Monday handled business at home with a commanding 60-22 win over Pope Francis.
This one was all Pittsfield (3-2) early and often as it was able to jump out to an early lead and never look back. Jamie Duquette led the way with 27 points, while Mineshka Montero chipped in with 11.
Pittsfield was aggressive right out the gate and really controlled the tempo of the game with their full court pressure. The Generals were able to minimize the size difference on defense and turn it into an advantage on the offensive end by pushing the ball up the court after every miss and steal. They were able to score eight of their 15 first quarter points in transition and it was a theme they continued all night long.
“Anytime you can get those kinds of baskets or opportunities it’s key because you don’t have to work in the half court set,“ Pittsfield coach Joe Racicot said. “The kids once they see you’re scoring some easy baskets they run the floor even more.”
Pittsfield took a 15-5 lead going into the second quarter and then continued to widen the gap giving them a 15 point lead at the break. Coming out of the break it was the defense that really stepped up for the Generals as they were able to hold Pope Francis to just one point in the quarter.
The defensive pressure really started to take its toll on Pope Francis and you finally saw it in the third. Jamie Duquette was on fire in the third, scoring 12 of her 27 points in the quarter alone. That third quarter really put the game to bed, although it never looked like Pittsfield was going to lose the lead at any point during the game. Pittsfield was able to coast the rest of the game and got some good minutes from younger bench players.
“Every game, no matter what the score is you try to focus on a couple key things and we were able to do that and get some of the younger kids some playing time,” Racicot said.
After losing their opening two games, Pittsfield seems to have found a groove rattling off three wins in a row. They will look to build off this momentum when they take on Monument Mountain on the road, Thursday.
