By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

KINGSTON – This just wasn’t a championship for the Woonsocket players and coaches to savor. What Villa Novans head coach George Coderre along with his daughter and star player, Brooke, felt were that the vibes from this momentous occasion should resonate throughout the entire city.
Those were the conclusions drawn shortly after Woonsocket ended Barrington’s two-year run as Division II champs Sunday afternoon at URI’s Ryan Center, dominating the Eagles in a 55-42 final that may have kicked off something special for the Villa Novans. With Woonsocket scheduled to return everyone who played a hand in dethroning Barrington, it’s not too far-fetched to think the Novans could string several titles together.
Tournament MVP Brooke Coderre scored 11 points, doing more facilitating than looking for her own offense. Freshman Kailey Fugere earned Player of the Game status, coming off the bench to score 23 points, 17 alone in the second half. More underclassmen appeared in the stat sheet in sophomore Ashley Dubois (six points) and junior Lauren Masse (seven points, two 3-pointers). What also can’t be overlooked is the poised ballhandling demonstrated by Michelle Brayboy, a wisp of a freshman (5-foot-3).
To sum it all up, the future looks extremely bright for Woonsocket. The title is the first for a Villa Novans girls or boys team in the city's high school history.
“This is a community that’s been waiting for something special for a long time, and we’re really proud of that,” said George Coderre.
Both father and daughter took the time to explain why this is such a special feat, all while trying to juggle the various emotions that come with winning a championship.
“A lot of us help out (at the YMCA), and there’s kids that really don’t have any role models. We’re kind of their role models,” said Brooke Coderre. “A lot of them were here to watch us.”
“They’re working with the youth programs, mentoring the young kids,” said George Coderre. “We’ve got a great group of kids who really have pride in their community. This wasn’t just a team basketball game. This was a community pride effort, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Coderre’s prized pupils completed a banner season at 22-2 overall, winning their four playoff games in runaway fashion (23.8 points). Catherine Matthews paced Barrington with 17 points while Kelly Mannix added 15.
One of the major storylines coming into Sunday was the matchup between two of the league’s top talents in Brooke Coderre and Mannix. It was the Villa Novans who forced Mannix to look for other avenues to score while Coderre was able to stay the course and pilot the Novans’ attack.
“Kelly is a tough player, but Brooke took away her left hand when she drove, forcing her to go where she didn’t want to go,” said George Coderre. “Kelly is clever enough to start posting up at that point. She got some damage done, but she was taken out of her flow.”
Echoed Brooke Coderre: “There were a few times I didn’t box out and (Mannix) got rebounds, so I was upset with myself, but I felt I did a good job taking away her left hand, which is her strength.”
The Novans started to pull away midway through the first half, back-to-back 3-pointers from Coderre and Masse and a short basket from Dubois putting Woonsocket up 24-13. The lead swelled to 14 points courtesy of a Brayboy trey before the Villa Novans headed of with a 31-19 cushion at halftime.
The second half belonged to Fugere. She scored eight of Woonsocket’s first 10 points and never looked back. Later in the half she went on a 10-point run, helping the Novans apply the finishing touches.
“Kailey played so great, she uses her right or left (hand),” said Brooke Coderre. “I talked to her before the game and she was a little nervous, but she played like a veteran.”
“Kailey did what she does best, she has a nose for the ball,” said George Coderre. “We don’t run anything for her, she slides into the openings and takes advantage of what’s available. She ends of being the recipient, which is a skill.”
Barrington did make things a bit interesting, cutting into Woonsocket’s substantial lead with a 12-3 run, making it 46-40 with less than six minutes remaining. The day and match, however, belonged to the Novans.
“I sensed it,” said George Coderre when asked if he could tell if a changing of the guard was on tap Sunday.
“I really think so,” said Brooke Coderre if the seeds where in place for another title run. “We’re starting to build the program. We have freshmen and sophomores and our junior class, I think this is start of something great.”       
 ***
WOONSOCKET (55): Nicole Boucher 1 0-0 3, Kailey Fugere 10 3-4 23, Abiodun Olowookere 1 0-0 2, Brooke Coderre 4 2-2 11, Michelle Brayboy 1 0-0 3, Lauren Masse 2 1-2 7, Ashley Dubois 3 0-0 6. Totals 22 6-8 55.
BARRINGTON (42): Kelly Mannix 5 5-8 15, Jerebelle Yucangco 0 0-0 0, Carly O’Keefe 2 0-0 4, Lisa Kwolek 0 0-0 0, Catherine Matthews 6 5-7 17, Julie Moss 1 2-4 4, Catarina Cowden 1 0-0 2 Totals: 15 10-19 42
Halftime: W 31-19.
Three-point field goals: W 5 (Lauren Masse 2, Nicole Boucher, Brooke Coderre, Michelle Brayboy). 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ashley Dubois (Woonsocket), Lauren Masse (Woonsocket), Catherine Mathews (Barrington), Kelly Mannix (Barrington), Sarah Ethier (Portsmouth).

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Kailey Fugere (Woonsocket), Catherine Matthews (Barrington

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Brooke Coderre (Woonsocket)