The Chelsea High girls basketball team’s season ended last Wednesday when they fell to Arlington 62-31 in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 North sectional state tournament at the local gym. Despite the decisive defeat, head coach Matt LaBranche emphasized that the loss did not erase what his squad had accomplished throughout the year. “I told the girls that they have a lot to be proud of,” said LaBranche. “They won a league title and will be hanging a banner in their gymnasium. They had a great year.” The game remained competitive early on, but Arlington quickly seized control with a 13-6 lead after one period. By intermission, the visitors had extended their advantage to 34-15, leaving Chelsea unable to mount a comeback. Shuly Sejour paced the Lady Red Devils with 11 points and earned Player of the Year honors in the Commonwealth Athletic Conference’s Small Division. Seven points came from senior Victoria Perez. Four-point contributions came from Madeleine Vielmann, Tatiana Fontes, and Khiana Binford, while Cristina Fernandes contributed one free throw. Beyond Sejour’s accolades, three of her teammates received postseason recognition. Perez, Fontes, and Lindsay Fuentes were all named all stars and will participate in the CAC all star contest Sunday at Presentation of Mary. LaBranche himself earned CAC Small Division Coach of the Year after leading his team to the league championship with a perfect 10-0 Small Division record and a 13-4 overall mark. The Lady Red Devils also ranked first in the league for defensive efficiency, allowing fewer points than any other team. “We’re looking to build on the success we had this year,” said LaBranche. “We did very well in our league, but we know now that if we want to compete in a Division 2 state tournament, we need to step up our game. That will be our challenge for the off season.”
CHS Girls Lose in Tourney, But Look Ahead
