BY CHARLIE ADAMS, LEAD TSM WRITER
(Cranston, RI) - Following a slow start out of the gate this season for the Lady ‘Bolts, they looked to get back on track against the Mt. Hope Huskies in their final home game before Christmas. Turnovers came in droves and it cost them, as the Huskies cruised to victory, 56-34.
Playing short-handed against a pressure defensive team like Mt. Hope was not an ideal matchup for Cranston East on this night. Missing senior captain Aydan Gulliver, their leading scorer during the 2021-22 season, senior forward Ranayjah Gomes, starting sophomore wing and defensive ace Jayna Gunderway, and key sophomore contributor Val Samos, this wasn’t a fair fight from the very beginning.
Cranston East’s Mya Jiminez did all she could with her 21 points, but as the turnovers piled on, so did Mt. Hope’s points. The Lady ‘Bolts also struggled to secure the glass, as Mt. Hope held a decisive rebounding advantage and in second chance points. The hole dug by the Lady ‘Bolts in the second quarter proved insurmountable as the team couldn’t recover, moving to 0-3 on the young season.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with the Thunderbolts trailing 12-11 following eight points from Jiminez, a junior captain. Besides Jiminez, the Lady Bolts had difficulty securing rebounds and getting off good shots against the Huskies’ length and defensive pressure.
The second quarter was nothing short of abysmal for Cranston East, recording more turnovers than points. It was a huge quarter for the Huskies, scoring 21 in the period and entering halftime with a 15-point lead, 33-18.
The third quarter showed more of the same action as the second quarter, however, as the Thunderbolts could only manage to score four points. Turnovers and inability to control the backboard proved fatal for East’s comeback chances, as the score sat at 46-22 entering the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw an uptick in scoring as Jiminez added another eight points, but with the result no longer in doubt, the game was over according to everybody besides the game clock.
The Lady ‘Bolts will travel to Mt. Pleasant on Thursday evening, again in search of their first win of the season. Following that they’ll play host to their Holiday Tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday, entertaining Woodstock Academy (NY) and cross-town rival Cranston West.
To keep up on all things regarding Thunderbolt sports, go to www.tbsportsmedia.com and @tbsportsmedia on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.