Chelsea High’s girls basketball team sits at 3-0 after securing two significant wins against Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) opponents last week. On Friday evening, the Lady Red Devils traveled to Minuteman Regional and emerged victorious 50-41, achieving their first triumph over the Large Division squad in five years. The matchup proved to be a grueling, physical affair, with officials calling 41 fouls throughout the game. “And it could have been even more,” noted CHS head coach Matt LaBranche, pointing out that his team members were knocked down repeatedly and three Lady Red Devils fouled out. Senior guard Victoria Perez led Chelsea’s scoring with 12 points, though she was knocked to the floor and hit her head, forcing her to sit out a significant portion of the contest. Junior Tatiana Fontes delivered a well-rounded performance, contributing 11 points. Junior Shuly Sejour added six points and secured numerous rebounds, while sophomore Lindsey Fuentes continued her strong two-way play with four points and multiple rebounds. Additional scorers included sophomores Madeline Vielmann and Karolyn Moni, each with four points, and Anisia Santiago, also with four points. The following Monday brought a home game against Presentation of Mary, a team undefeated in the Small Division of the CAC for two consecutive seasons. “We expected this to be a tough game because PMA has been so strong for the past couple of years and is always well coached,” LaBranche said. Complicating matters was Perez’s absence due to lingering effects from her head injury against Minuteman. Yet the Chelsea squad demonstrated that this season could prove different in the CAC. From the opening tip, the Red and Black controlled both ends of the court, building a commanding 28-9 halftime lead. Though PMA outscored Chelsea 7-2 in the third quarter, the Lady Red Devils reasserted themselves in the final period to secure a 42-20 win. Fontes reached double figures with 11 points. Sejour made a strong contribution with nine points, while Moni scored six points. Vielmann and Fuentes each added four points, and Bahiyabhaya Nasuuna recorded her first varsity basket. “It was a great win for us,” LaBranche said. “Our defense was phenomenal and despite a letdown in the third period, we stayed in control the entire way.” Despite his team’s strong showing and potential for divisional contention, LaBranche cautioned against looking too far ahead. “We have to continue to work hard and take it one quarter at a time,” the coach stated. Chelsea will resume play on Thursday, January 6, when they face Northeast Regional Vocational School, following the vacation break.
CHS Girls Improve to 3-0 with Pair of Wins
