Her-icanes win home opener 77-70

Packed gym at MVHS treated to excellent basketball game

The Miramichi Her-icanes, one of 7 teams in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association (WMBA) played their first home game yesterday May 5th in front of a packed house at MVHS. The team dropped their first league game on the road the night before in Saint John in which they led at half by one point, but ended up losing in a lopsided fashion after only scoring 15 points in the second half.

The Heri-canes faced Fredericton for the home opener and got out to a fast start by out scoring Fredericton 41-25 in the first half. Miramichi native Bailey Black paced the Her-icanes in the first quarter with a team-leading 7 points, but got into foul trouble and had to sit for most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Missing Black’s ball pressure, Fredericton mounted a comeback by sinking 7 three pointers in the third quarter.

In the dying moments of the game Miramichi lead by two points and Fredericton seemed poised to get the ball back with about 10 seconds on the clock. But starting point guard Lauren Rainford made a three-pointer just before the shot clock expired and was fouled in the process, making it a four point play. She added another free throw in the last second of the game and the Her-icanes came away with a 77-70 win, making them 1 and 1 on the season

Black finished with 11 points while fellow Miramichier and recent MVHS stand-out and provincial champion Georgia Bell contributed 9 points off the bench. The team’s next home game is Friday May 17.