RallyNorth.net

LOWELL — With just three seconds left on the clock and Andover leading by a single point, Golden Warrior senior Rachael Cormier stepped to the free throw line. In that moment, classmate Talia Dellatto looked into her point guard’s eyes. “I was freaking out and I looked at Rachael and you could just tell how focused she was,” said Dellatto. “The same for Alyssa (Casey) when she got to the line. They were so calm and so focused. When you are that determined, special things happen.” Cormier knocked down a crucial free throw to make it a 2-point game, then superstar Casey was fouled on a rebound and swished a free throw of her own with just one second left in the game. Billerica (20-4) had time only to throw up a full-court prayer, and Andover clinched a thrilling 41-38 victory to earn the Division 1 North title Saturday night at the Tsongas Center. “It’s just unreal,” said Cormier. “I don’t even remember the final second. I just remember running and jumping and celebrating. We knew it was going to be a hard game, and that we would have to battle. To win this is just surreal.” The Golden Warriors (22-2) now advance to the Division 1 state semifinal on Monday at the TD Garden in Boston at 5:45 p.m. They will face 23-0 South champ Braintree, the defending state champ. “I have never experienced anything like this before,” said Casey, who scored a team-high 15 points. “It’s incredible. I’m overwhelmed. I can’t even describe how much fun this is. I can’t wait to play Braintree.” This marks the first North title for the Andover girls since the Nicole Boudreau-led Golden Warriors took home three straight state titles in 2010-12. “It really is amazing,” said senior co-captain Colleen Caveney. “We have played so many tough games, and to fight and get this win is so thrilling. It was a very back-and-fourth game and we had to stay tough.” Against a Billerica team that had dealt them one of their two losses this winter (Andover won 57-35 on Jan. 2 and lost 42-29 on Feb. 11), the Warriors knew they would face a physical battle. “They were big and strong and were very tough on the boards,” said Cormier. “So we had to stay low and get tough. We had to play defense to beat them.” Sure enough, defense was the name of the game through the first three quarters on both sides. After Casey hit two shots in the first quarter, Andover was limited to three baskets in the second and third combined, and Billerica had just four in that stretch. Andover led 24-19 after three. “We had to fight and stay tough mentally through that,” said center Jillian Webber. “We were nervous, but we could not let down for a second.” It was Webber who gave the Warriors some rhythm back in the fourth, making a move in the paint and sinking a smooth hook shot. One possession later it was Cormier, playing with four fouls, who drove for a layup. Casey added a jumper and Dellatto, Caveney and Carissa Reming each hit free throws. But Billerica kept answering, and with less than a minute to go the Indians began to foul. First it was Cormier who drained two free throws, then Casey hit two of her own. Billerica again answered with a 3-pointer, making it 39-38 when Cormier went to the line with three seconds left. “You can’t let the moment overwhelm you,” said Casey, a 5-11 sophomore who was named MVC Division 1 MVP. “I know I can hit free throws. I have made a million in my life. I just had to do it.” Each knocked one down, kicking off a massive celebration at center court. “It was crazy,” said Dellatto. “Winning is the best feeling ever. I was tearing up it was so emotional. I am so happy to do this with my team.” Andover knows it now faces a massive task at the Garden. But the Warriors feel ready. “I am nervous, but it is a good, exciting nervous,”said Webber. “I know it is going to be an unforgettable day I will remember my whole life.”

Andover 41, Billerica 38 Division 1 North Final Billerica (38): Caitlin Catania 8 1-4 17, Lauren Zarro 1 0-0 2, Catherine Napoli 0 1-2 1, Nicole Wedge 0 1-2 1, Maura Baronas 2 0-0 5, Caitlin Boermeester 1 0-0 2, Danielle Loguidice 1 2-2 5, Caroline Gillis 1 2-2 5. Totals 14 7-12 38 Andover (41): Alyssa Casey 5 4-6 15, Jillian Webber 2 4-4 8, Colleen Caveney 1 5-9 7, Talia Dellatto 0 4-6 4, Rachael Cormier 1 4-6 6, Carissa Reming 0 1-2 1, Caileigh Reming 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 22-33 41 3-pointers: A — Casey; B — Baronas, Loguidice Billerica (20-4):     6 7 6 19 — 38 Andover (22-2):    10 8 6 17 — 41 State semifinals: Monday at TD Garden, vs. Braintree, 5:45 p.m.

Colleen Caveney hit two 3-pointers on her way to 14 points and sophomroe star Alyssa Casey continued to dominante with 21 points as Andover rolled over previously-unbeaten Billerica 57-35.