Barrington Middle School girls lose in state finals

Lady Eagles finish season with 18-1 record

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA
Posted 2/21/18

The Curtis Corner jinx continues for the Barrington Middle School girls’ basketball team. 

For the third time, the South Kingstown middle school entry has beaten the Lady Eagles in the …

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Barrington Middle School girls lose in state finals

Lady Eagles finish season with 18-1 record

Posted

The Curtis Corner jinx continues for the Barrington Middle School girls’ basketball team. 

For the third time, the South Kingstown middle school entry has beaten the Lady Eagles in the state championship game.

“It gets frustrating after a while losing games like this,” said Lady Eagles’ head coach Mike Topazio, “but that’s the way the ball bounces sometimes.”

The local girls gave it everything they had…and then some, before bowing, 32-30, in an overtime thriller on Feb. 15 at Bay View Academy. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Barrington, but Coach Topazio was most proud of his team.

“They played their hearts out,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Both teams entered the state championship contest with perfect 18-0 records. Curtis Corner was among the top teams in the state offensively, while the Lady Eagles were ranked number one on defense. It was a game of missed opportunities, some questionable fouls, and give-and-take throughout regulation and into the overtime.

“We had a shot at it,” Coach Topazio said. “The girls realized that they played the best they could against a very good basketball team. Both teams knew each other well going in. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished this year and will forever be grateful for these girls and all that came before them that paved the way for our tremendous success the past six years. My girls gave it their all. They fought hard from beginning to end.”  

This was anybody’s ball game, plain and simple. 

Barrington fought its way to a 14-12 halftime lead, but not without some misfortune. Leading scorer, eighth-grader Grace Ceseretti, got into some early foul trouble which really hampered things. On top of that, she turned an ankle and suffered a bloody nose. She missed the final minutes of regulation and the entire overtime session.

“Not having Grace in there really hurt our chances,” said the coach. “She wound up with 14 points and played a terrific game for us.”

There were chances for both teams to win this in regulation, but the game went into overtime tied at 27. In the end, sixth-grader Dani Ceseretti, Grace’s younger sister, raced down the floor and penetrated into the lane and threw up a 10-foot shot that went in and out.

Defensively, eighth-grader Kate Robertson played well for Barrington.

“She did a great job for us off the boards,” said Coach Topazio, “and Sophie Richardson, another eighth-grader, held Curtis Corner’s top player scoreless in the second half. Even the Curtis Corner coach came over to me after the game and complimented us on our defensive play.”

With four Eastern Division championships under their belt, five Final Fours, and four state final game appearances, the Lady Eagles have a lot to be proud of. Since the 2012-13 season, the team has amassed a record of 97-14.

Next year, the Lady Eagles will lose some strong players, most notably, Grace Ceseretti, who for her career,  helped lead the team to a 55-2 regular season record and three Eastern Division titles. 

Returning players include sixth-graders Dani Ceseretti, Fran Johnson and Maddison Gil, along with seventh-graders Malia Villella, Grace Tarro, Caroline McConaghy and Chloe Rouleau.

“We’ll have some work to do next year,” Coach Topazio said, “but we’ll be competitive.”

“I’m also looking forward to coaching these wonderful young ladies next year,” added dedicated assistant coach Corey Aguiar. “It’s been a pleasure being a part of this great program these past few years.”

As for Mike Topazio, he looks at it from another aspect.

“I’m right up there with Marv Levy and Bud Grant,” he chuckled. “One of these days we’re going to win this state championship game.

Team roster

Dani Ceseretti

Sophie Richardson

Hailey Walter

Caroline McConaghy

Grace Ceseretti

Maddie Heinemann

Sarah Jageler

Jane Small

Charlotte McGarry

Kate Robertson

Maeve Murphy

Ali Jarret

Chloe Rouleau

Malia Villella

Grace Tarro

Avery Kirkwood

Maddison Gil

Riana Lavin

Fran Johnson

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