By Michael Letendre 

BRISTOL – Can the Bristol Central girls basketball team beat crosstown rival Bristol Eastern for a third consecutive time? 

That scenario isn’t out of the question as the Rams have broken the hex against their city rival and look to win the first game between the programs this year. 

Central brings some excellent talent to the floor as forward Nicole Riemer has put together a breakout season, hoping to spin some of her hardwood magic against the Lancers. 

This team has an established core that could rival Eastern despite the opponent’s excellent record to date (the Lancers are 9-2 overall). 

And Central has some confidence when squaring off against Eastern as a young, hungry group of athletes will be looking to continue its winning streak against the kids from King Street. 

So, what should you expect from Central on Tuesday night when the squad clashes against Eastern? 

Here’s a special look at the first city series showdown of the year: 

Bristol Central Girls Basketball versus Bristol Eastern, CCC South Confrontation 

Where: Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium on the campus of BCHS 

When: Tuesday, 6:45 p.m. (stay away snow!) 

Bristol Central (5-5 overall) – Head Coach: Steve Gaudet 

Central’s lineup: Brooke Watson (senior, injured), forward; Arianna Rivera (senior), guard; Leilani Jackson-Mills (junior), forward; Nicole Riemer (sophomore), forward; Molly McMahon (sophomore), guard; Julia Pikiell (sophomore), guard; Laylani Cespedes (freshmen), guard; Olivia Louis (freshmen), guard. 

The storyline to consider: Steve Gaudet’s program is humming as well, hanging in at 5-5 while also turning to some younger players for big time production. 

The Rams hope to start their second half of the season playoff push with a victory over the Lancers. 

Frankly, there’s a lot riding on the line from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium. 

Central is looking for its third consecutive win…Central is on a hot streak against Eastern and getting that victory against Platt – sweeping the season series over the Panthers  – might have been exactly what the doctor (or Gaudet) ordered. 

And this team is hungry, too. 

Central has the chance to rope up its fourth victory against the Eastern in five tries.

That’s territory that hasn’t been breached in decades.

Will this be the game in which senior Brooke Watson (8.9 points-per-game in 2023-24, 15 three-pointers) makes her Bristol debut? 

Getting Watson back is in the same conversation as Eastern returning Leah Roy (ACL) to the lineup.

Both have recovered from their injuries and will be looking to make big splashes over the second half of the regular season. 

Watson is a spark plug, looking to finally shake a broken collar bone, and her outside marksmanship has been sorely missed by the program. 

The squad is talented up front with sophomore Nicole Riemer (17.3 points-per-game) controlling the paint. 

She gobble up rebounds, rejects a shot or two and will play the entire thirty-two minutes if Gaudet lets her. 

Riemer is capable of a 25-point point explosion on any given night but she’ll have her hands full whether she’s guarding Autumn Udoh or Amanda Noel. 

Central also employs a number of players that can slot over to forward including the slick shooting Leilani Jackson (7.7 points-per-game) or even Arianna Rivera (10.2 ppg). 

Jackson is a smooth jumper shooter who can hit from midrange while Rivera is always in motion, finding the passing lanes for steals and lay-ups. 

If Eastern wants to run up and down the court, that will be more than okay for someone like Rivera.

Add in the shooting prowess of Molly McMahon and Julia Pikiell – both capable shooters from long range – and Central has the tools to keep pace with Eastern’s offensive weapons. 

But the two players the Lancers must be wary of on the court are freshmen studs Laylani Cespedes and Olivia Louis. 

Those two guards are quick, can put the ball in the hoop and are extremely pesky on the defensive end. 

Cespedes averages right around 4.0 points-per-game and the crafty Louis (3.0 ppg) does the dirty work, wearing out opposing guards and is an irritant on the court. 

Both guards will give Eastern backcourt fits and neither athlete is afraid to mix it up. 

Gaudet better expect the Lancers to press from the start and score in transition off turnovers and miscues. 

That’s been a staple of Eastern’s excellent play to date. 

But if Central can remain poised, use the shot clock to its advantage, advance the ball up the court quickly and rebound off Eastern’s first miss – not allowing the Lancers second and third shooting opportunities – then the Rams have half a shot in this city series tilt. 

No matter how this is sliced, the games between the Bristol public school programs, no longer the blowouts like they used to be for nearly a generation, are fun, exciting, unpredictable and worth a trip down to the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium to witness in person.