Only a sophomore, Molly Bent may very well one day prove to be one of Barnstable's all-time best.
But last night at Barnstable High School, individual milestones were overshadowed somewhat as Bent's Red Raiders fell to the visiting Wellesley High Raiders, 66-49, in round one of the MIAA Division 1 South Sectionals. Barnstable finished at 14-6 for the season.
Bent scored 24 points on the night and netted her 1,000th career point from the foul line midway through the 4th quarter and she stood humbly and stoically as the crowd gave her a standing ovation. She is the only Red Raider in the 90-year history of Barnstable High School basketball to score 1,000 career points so early in her high school career.
But the gifted shooting guard did not appear wrapped up in the achievement and instead focused as she had all game on the mission at hand - to try and lead her Red Raiders to victory. Unfortunately, Wellesley possessed too many weapons in senior captain Grace Miller, junior point guard Sophia Mavrommatis and senior captain Charlotte Bussema. Miller was dominant beneath the glass and scored 22 points while Mavrommatis - who played brilliantly throughout - had a game-high 25 points, including a quartet of downtown treys. Bussema was equally effective inside the paint with 15 points of her own.
Still, the host Red Raiders played with passion and heart from the opening tip, including a 10-point, 7-rebound performance from junior CeYanna Soares and a gutsy, precocious display by freshman Megan Dombrowski. Dombrowski - whose challenge was to guard the 6'3" Miller - ripped down 11 rebounds and dumped in 8 points. Red Raider junior forward Colleen Kenney also turned in a solid game with 7 points and five rebounds.
But it was not enough as Wellesley held onto an 18-15 1st quarter lead and added to it, quarter by quarter. The guests held a commanding 38-26 lead by halftime and a 53-39 lead after the third quarter. Barnstable's sole lead of the game came at its outset when Bent led things off with a pretty downtown bomb from beyond the arc.
Barnstable sophomore guard Margot Rice had five assists, two rebounds and a steal to add to the Red Raiders' effort.
Bent's 549 points for the season is also a new school record, setting the mark for the most points scored in a single season by an individual Red Raider basketball player. The previous mark was 522, set by Morgan Kendrew in 2007-08. Bent set the new school mark on February 15 in her team's 59-39 victory over Dartmouth when she scored 28 points.