New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Barker, Plainville upend West Haven
— Plainville senior Caitlin Barker understands her team’s offense. She also understands when the 3-pointers fall, the dynamic of the team changes.
Behind 20 points from Barker and a balanced scoring attack, Plainville rolled to a 67-40 non-conference victory over West Haven Saturday afternoon at West Haven High.
“I think we can be very dangerous,” Barker said. “We can all shoots 3’s. When they start to fall, we can light it up. I think when we play together, we can be unstoppable. Once one of us gets going, we all get going.”
The Plainville offense was effective from longrange and in close, hitting nine 3-pointers. While the offense was effective, it was the defensive effort by Plainville which was the key, forcing several first half turnovers by the Westies which led to easy baskets.
While Barker connected on six field goals and a pair of 3-pointers, Jaida Vasquez had 15 points, Samantha Lozefski added 14, and Tessa Susco chipped in eight.
For West Haven, it was all about shot selection and turnovers. With the Westies leading by five points in the first quarter, the shots did not fall and Plainville used runs of 6-0 and 7-0 to take control of the game with a 19-12 lead after one quarter. Vasquez had six points in the quarter, including a key 3-pointer which pointed the momentum in Plainville’s favor.
“We can’t win turning the ball over like we did,” West Haven coach Jessica Moriarty said. “That has been our biggest issue the last couple of games. We have beaten ourselves. We are forcing things instead of letting the game come to us.”
Plainville pulled away for good in the second quarter as Lozefski started with a 3-pointer for a 10-point lead, before a pair of buckets by Ny’Aire Serrano got the Westies within six points. The Westies never got closer.
Lozefski added a 3-pointer, Barker followed with a bucket, and another 5-0 run soon followed as Plainville took a 32-20 lead to the half.
Serrano led West Haven with 18 points, while Natalia Frazer and Davina Mendez each scored six.
PLAINVILLE
WEST HAVEN