The Whaler girls basketball team closed out their season today against the Mashpee Falcons at home, losing 61-38. Nantucket will not be in the state tournament this season and finished with a 3-15 record.
Senior captain Maclaine Willett finished her high school basketball career off strong with a 17 point effort. Senior captain Raegen Perry also had a strong game with 12 points.
“I’m proud of these seniors and what they got in store in the future,” head coach Rafael Osona said of his seven senior players. “It is bittersweet when you graduate this many. Seven stepping out and going onto bigger and better things. They had a lot of fun today and wanted to go out on a high note. Wins are great, but they were smiling and having a good time. We ran a senior group for most of the game and they had fun.”
Willett eclipsed the 40-three point makes mark for the season today. She made five threes Tuesday night. She had 20 points in the Whalers loss to Martha’s Vineyard on Monday.
“That is a big number for a kid that was apprehensive to shoot despite being a good shooter,” Osona said of Willett’s milestone. “I’m sad to see (these seniors) go. Second half of the season (Willett) was averaging 15-plus points. It was very nice.”
Osona said next year’s team won’t just have different personnel, but in all likelihood will have a different offensive and defensive scheme to fit their newer and younger personnel. He believes it will be junior point guard Ciara Barnett’s show next year.
“She is the kid, she is the one,” Osona said. “She is going to be our leader. She is going to be our everything. It is nice to have the point guard leader, the quarterback of the team, and she has all the tools to do it. I’m excited for her to take the reigns and it is her show now.”
