On Tuesday, the Smithfield Sentinels faced the Chariho Chargers in a battle between two of the state's top teams. Smithfield took a 54-42 hit to the loss column at the hands of Chariho. It was the first time this season that Smithfield let down their fans at home.
Despite the loss, Smithfield saw an underclassman step up: Annabelle Lally scored 14 points. Another player making a difference was Avery Areson, who scored eight points.
Chariho's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Emily Ballard, who dropped a double-double on 16 points and 18 rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Ballard has scored all season. Keira Frias was another key contributor, scoring 17 points along with six rebounds and two steals.
Smithfield's loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 5-3. As for Chariho, the win (which was their fourth in a row) raised their record to 6-1.
Smithfield will head out on the road to face off against Cumberland at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Rhode Island (Cumberland is ranked 21st, while Smithfield is ranked 25th). As for Chariho, they will be playing in front of their home fans against West Warwick at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday.
