PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For most of the second half of Sunday afternoon’s game, everyone the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, including the Sharon defense, knew where Canton was going on the offensive end of the floor. The ball was going into the block to junior Hannah Jerrier as often as possible.

Knowing that she was going to get the ball did not make her any easier to stop.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Jerrier scored 26 points, including all 10 of Canton’s points in the third quarter and 18 of the 27 points the Bulldogs scored in the second half, and pulled down nine rebounds to lift the Bulldogs to a 58-49 victory and a season sweep of the Eagles.

“I think our team, now that we’re halfway through the year, is understanding their roles and they see Hannah being successful in the post, so they have more confidence in throwing it to her,” said Canton coach Jim Choquette. “Hannah stepping up has really helped us the last few games.”

The Bulldogs went to Jerrier on almost every possession in the third quarter, as they tried to protect a 12-point halftime lead. Guards Julia Hamilton and Maggie Connolly and fellow post players Emma Murphy and Erin Devine each had assists on the four baskets that Jerrier had in the third, as Canton utilized the high post to perfection and extended a run from the first half that built the lead to as many as 20 points.

“We were trying to go full-court press because that worked the first time we played them,” said Sharon coach Cliff Tomassian of trying to defend Jerrier. “Once they beat the press they were able to get it down to her for easy buckets. In the half-court, she’s just tough to defend.”

It took the Eagles a while to get going on the offensive end int he third quarter, but Sharon started to chip away at the lead. Shira Stoller hit a runner and freshman Tylesia Herbert (seven points and three steals) buried a three from the far corner. Stoller closed the quarter with a steal, a layup, and the foul that got Sharon back within 10 heading to the fourth.

“We stuck with it,” said Tomassian. “I thought the girls just stepped it up and made some plays. All we ask is that no matter what the score is, no matter who we’re playing is to keep fighting.”

In the fourth, Stoller (seven points) banked in a runner to cut the lead down to single digits at 45-36 and Veronica Wallace started to heated up for the Eagles. She answered a Jerrier basket with a drive to the hoop and took a defensive rebound and flew past everyone on her way to another layup that got Sharon as close as five points (50-45).

“The first game we played them she had five missed layups and I think she took it a little personal and she came to play today,” said Tomassian of Wallace, who had eight points in the fourth and a team-high 12 for the game. “No one wants to stop her. If she gets into the open court in practice, everyone stands still and doesn’t want to touch her.”

Choquette took advantage of a timeout to settle down the Bulldogs and remind them of his halftime message. He explained, “There’s always a letdown and a point where they’re hitting their stride. I’m not worried about that part, once we get to a certain point, we have to draw a line in the sand and answer.

“During one of the timeouts he called, I said okay that was their run and it’s right back to playing our game. That worked, we answered their challenge and won the game.”

Connolly (eight points and seven rebounds) had a drive to the basket plus the foul that got momentum back with the Bulldogs. She scored six of her eight points in the fourth and Jerrier added eight as well to close out the win.

Playing in a much different environment than they are used to, both teams came out a little flat to start the game. Sharon’s offense was not helped by two quick fouls on sophomore Emma Eberhardt, who is the Eagles’ leading scorer this season. Eberhardt missed most of the first half and finished with eight points.

“She usually doesn’t come out very much at all,” said Tomassian of Eberhardt. “It’s the second half of the season and we’re seeing teams again or they’re seeing her before they play us and they’re defending her much better.”

Canton was struggling a little with the Sharon press but as the first quarter wore on the Bulldogs started to find seams and score in transition. Hamilton had all seven of her points in the first half and Murphy added 11 of her 13 before the break, as Canton closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run to break the game open.

On Tuesday, Canton (4-9, 3-8) will try to make it three wins in a row when it travels to Oliver Ames. Sharon (5-10, 2-9) has to run the table to qualify for the state tournament and that begins on Tuesday with a trip to Franklin.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.