Westport girls lose, boys win in non league hoop rematches against Fairhaven

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 1/14/22

The Westport girls basketball team fell 43-38 to Fairhaven in a non league home game on Wednesday night. The lost dropped the team’s overall record to 2-4. Junior guard and co-captain Leah …

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Westport girls lose, boys win in non league hoop rematches against Fairhaven

Posted

The Westport girls basketball team fell 43-38 to Fairhaven in a non league home game on Wednesday night. The lost dropped the team’s overall record to 2-4. Junior guard and co-captain Leah Sylvain took control of the game early and scored 12 of her game high 17 points in the first half. Her cousin, freshman guard Zoe Sylvain added 6 points, sophomore guard Korynne Holden and sophomore forward Molly Molloy each netted 2 points as the team playing without senior co-captain Lily Pichette held a 22-11 first half lead. 

“We started hot,” said head coach Jen Gargiulo after the game. “Leah is our leader out there. She is definitely the engine behind our offense. She sees the court well. She has a nice pace to her offense and she helps improve those around her.” 

“In the first half we were moving the ball well and taking our open shots,” said Leah Sylvain. “We were playing very aggressive on defense. That’s how we strive.” 

“We were missing Lily tonight,” Coach Gargiulo said. “She’s a big part of our offense. But the other girls stepped up. Megan Molloy did a nice job. Sarah Perry, Sarah Carney and Alora DaFonseca, they also played well filling in and they all play for each other. They fight till the last buzzer.”

Coach Gargiulo said that Wildcats have to play a full game against a team like Fairhaven. 

“They are a good team,” she said. “They do a nice job and they are well coached. We play teams like this from bigger divisions to improve. We have shown so much growth since the beginning of the season. You don’t hang your head on a loss like this. You capitalize on what we did well and we’ll work on the things that showed our weaknesses.” 

Westport’s outside shooting went cold in the second half and they were forced to work the ball inside. The Wildcats scored 12 of their 16 second half points from the foul-line. Westport had trouble stopping guard Sydney Burke down the stretch, who led the Blue Devils comeback scoring 9 of her 12 points in the second half. The Blue Devils cut the lead to 30-23 after the third quarter and evened the score 32-32 with 5:32 left in fourth. Guard Maya Medeiros also contributed hitting two three point bombs for Fairhaven during the comeback. 

“We started fouling a lot more,” Sylvain said. “We started turning the ball over and we let them get in our heads.”  

“We’ll continue to improve,” said Coach Gargiulo. “These types of games will only make us better. We’ll see what chemistry works the best and what lineup works the best. A season is a progression. The goal is that you improve every day and like I say to them, if you work hard, good things will happen. Despite the outcome, the girls always work hard.” 

“I like playing teams like Fairhaven,” Sylvain said. “It will make us better. Even if we lose. It’s very good competition.” 

 

Boys sweep home and home series with Fairhaven

Owen and Ben Boudria combined for 24 points as the undefeated Westport boys basketball team beat Fairhaven 60-55 in a non league away game on Wednesday night. The Wildcats improved their record to 6-0 and have three non league games left before beginning their Mayflower league schedule. The team held on to beat Fairhaven 56-50 in their first home game on Dec. 17. 

Four out of five starters scored in double figures as the Wildcats battered the Blue Devils and led 32-19 at halftime. Owen Boudria a freshman guard led the team with 13 points. His older brother, Ben a junior guard, scored 11. Senior forward Aidan Rock netted 12 points, Dom Vitorino scored 11 and Junior guard Hunter Brodeur scored 9. Cam Leary and Jayden Zuber each scored 2 coming in off the bench as the Wildcats prepare for league play. 

2024 by East Bay Media Group

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.