Satrape Helps PHS Pull Away from Warriors

DALTON, Mass. — Courtney McLaughlin got the Pittsfield girls' basketball team off to a strong start against Wahconah on Friday night, but it was junior Dominique Satrape who stepped up in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of her team's 18 points in the final frame to help the Generals secure a 62-52 win on the road. 

McLaughlin had the hot hand early on, scoring 13 of her game-high 21 points in the first quarter. The senior captain is off to a great start this season, averaging a team-high 18.5 points and 2.5 3-pointers per game through the first four contests. Pittsfield (3-1) led by three points after the first quarter, but Wahconah (2-4) came back strong with an 18-point outburst in the second quarter to earn a two-point lead at halftime.

Warriors guard Gabby Lavinio was on fire in the first half, knocking down five threes on her way to 15 first-half points. The Generals' defense made her the focal point in the second half, however, and limited her to just one free throw the rest of the way. The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game, as Pittsfield held Wahconah to just seven points on its way to earning a six-point lead heading into the fourth. 

"Tough half-court defense in the second half by Sydney Deluce and Trinity Cookis was the key to limiting Lavinio and holding Wahconah to seven points," Generals head coach Joe Racicot said. "Dominique also contributed six steals, while Rachel Hunt dominated the boards with 11 rebounds." 

Satrape helped put the game away for Pittsfield, scoring 13 of her 15 points in the second half and going 7 of 10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. She also added six rebounds and three assists, while Hunt helped out on the offensive end with 13 points. 

"We played a pretty good first half, but the third quarter was the difference in this one," Warriors head coach June Blake said. We were unable to get any of our shots to fall, and PHS knocked down shots to build a lead going into the fourth. We stepped it up offensively in the fourth, but we were unable to get the stop when we needed one."

Senior center Shannon Lussier finished with a double-double for Wahconah, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 boards.

The Warriors next play at Drury at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, while the Generals host Lee at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.