Bay View vs. Barrington. Why the Division I girls basketball playoffs started early
EAST PROVIDENCE — A playoff appetizer — a preview of the Division I girls basketball tournament — ended with a made 3-pointer.
Barrington cashed a corner triple as the horn expired, but it wasn’t enough against Bay View. The Bengals held a two-possession lead when Ellie Donato swished the final basket and seized a 39-38 final on Friday night.
With the win the Bengals (15-3) move into a tie for first in Division I-A on the final night of the regular season, with the Eagles. Barrington (15-3), who trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, also lost to Bay View at the start of the season.
“Playing against Barrington is always tough,” Bay View coach Dawan Robinson said. “They're well-coached and they play hard. They’re aggressive on defense and they always have some players and they always got some shooters.”
Ava Wasylow led Bay View with 16 points, while Qiana Sumner Jr. and Amelia Polichetti chipped in eight points.
Barrington turned the tide in the second half
The Eagles, who managed just four points in the second quarter, went with full-court pressure for the entire second half. Still trailing by 10 at the end of the third frame, Barrington opened the fourth with a transition layup from Liv Morrissette.
Morrissette then forced a backcourt violation and snagged a steal on consecutive possessions, the latter was flipped in for a basket and a 34-30 deficit with 4:40 remaining.
The Eagles pulled to within a one-score game on Janaya Prince Baquero’s long 3 from the right wing with 3:20 to play.
“It really did [feel like the playoffs], it was really intense,” Sumner Jr. said. “I know that's what the playoffs are going to feel like.”
Bay View iced the game at the line and persisted through the full-court pressure late in regulation.
“The last few games we haven’t been playing at our best,” Robinson said. “But today, for the big games they show up. It's a good feeling to go into playoffs with a win like that.”
Isys Dunphy scored 11 for Barrington.
What's next?
Next up for both teams is the Division Championship Tournament, which will be held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion as high school basketball championships return to the downtown Providence venue for the first time since 2004. Quarterfinals open Feb. 26 with championship games set for March 4-6.
That's followed by the State Championship Tournament, which opens March 8 at the Ryan Center on the University of Rhode Island's Kingston campus.
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: D-I girls hoops playoffs started early with Bay View vs. Barrington
