Triton holds off East Boston 36-27 in non-league girls basketball

(Byfield)  A run of nine unanswered points combined with clutch free throw shooting were keys in Triton getting past East Boston, 36-27, on a snowy Monday night of non-league action.

The Viking girls broke away from an 11-11 tie with a run of points that began late in the second quarter and stretched two minutes into the third quarter.  Their nine-point collection put the home team on top, 20-11.

Thereafter, strong Triton free throw shooting (eight-for-ten) was needed to hold off the fast-closing Jets.  The visitors would get within six (27-21) with 5 ½ minutes left in the game but that was the best they could do.

Megan Muldowney contributed five points in the nine-point run that gave the Vikings separation.  In there was an old-fashioned three as the sophomore went coast-to-coast down the left side and was fouled.

Freshman Christine Ciccone and sophomore Hannah Canning each had a basket in the important Triton run of points.

The hero of the free throw shooting was certainly senior co-captain Harley Wood.  Harley hit on all six attempts including a crucial four during the last 2 ½ minutes of this game.

The Jets were pesky on defense especially in the first half when they caused thirteen Viking turnovers.

A three by sophomore Daniela Villegas tied the Jets with Triton at eleven in the second period.

The teams had played at East Boston earlier in the season and Triton had been the winner, 26-20, so it was easy to imagine another tight game.  However, the nine straight Vikings points appeared, at the moment, to doom such a finish.

But the girls from the Boston City League put five straight points together in the fourth quarter (Daniela Villegas layup and free throw plus a Chuckearah Johnson hook) to make things interesting (27-21) with 5 ½ minutes left.

However,  Triton answered with a Hannah Canning layup, a free throw by Nikki Sullivan, and a jump shot from Kaitlyn Muldowney to restore their double digit lead (32-21) and take command.

Sophomore Jasmine Lemus (8 points) was high scorer for Eastie.

Harley Wood and Hannah Canning topped the Viking point producers.

Triton (2-12) will be at Georgetown tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Cape Ann League action.

East Boston (1-11) had its lone win over Snowden in the Boston City League.

Chuckearah Johnson (7 points) made the game’s highlight shot when she went into the lane and spun out nailing a nifty hook shot.

Triton boxscore

East Boston boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably and focus better if you click on them.)