RallyNorth.net

Casey, Andover finish off Whittier for IAABO title

Tuesday, February, 17 By David Willis
Staff writer

DANVERS — Prior to each game, Andover star forward Alyssa Casey takes a few moments to write down goals for that night, before folding the paper up and securing it safely in her right sock.

"It really helps me focus," said Casey. "I keep those goals in the back of my mind, and work to accomplish them. I didn't realize how important it was until recently and I went into a funk. It calms me down and really helps me a lot."

Facing a Whittier squad with just one loss on the season last night, Casey and her Andover High teammates checked off each and every one of their goals with flying colors.

Casey scored a game-high 18 points, while senior captain Colleen Caveney tallied all 15 of her points in the second half as the Golden Warriors pulled away from gritty Whittier 67-51 in the title game of the IAABO Larry McIntire Classic at St. John's Prep.

"It was definitely big to beat Whittier and win the tournament," said senior co-captain Rachael Cormier. "They have been ranked ahead of us in the state rankings and below us, and we know how good they are. We had to execute against a really tough team and it feels great to get the win."

But it wasn't easy against a Wildcats squad whose only loss going into the night was to North Andover.

Trailing by nine after three quarters, Whittier star Andrea Terranova (10 points) sunk a pair of hoops to cut the Warrior lead to just 42-37.

"We had to keep our composure," said Andover co-captain Caveney. "Whittier plays a very aggressive game. But once we started making a few big shots, we started getting confidence and we seized it."

Caveney slowed the rally with a bucket, then sophomore forward Jillian Webber added a hoop to bring the advantage back to 46-37. After the two teams exchanged baskets, Webber struck again and Caveney added a steal and layup kicking off a 15-4 run that ended any hopes of a Wildcats rally.

"It was awesome," said senior sixth man Talia Dellatto. "Our team picked it up when we needed to and played terrific. We knew that we could win this, and we just had to come out and perform the way we should."

Facing off against 6-foot-4 Whittier center Samnell Vonleh in a clash of two of the state's premier front court players, the 5-foot-11 Casey was more than up to the task. 

Along with her game-best 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, Casey added 12 rebounds and blocked four shots. 

She was forced to do much of her damage without frontcourt mate Webber, who sat out most of the second and all of the third with four fouls. But when Webber returned to the game, she scored eight fourth quarter points and made a pair of blocks.

While Webber was out, Andover received some help in defending Vonleh (12 points) from an unexpected source, 5-foot-7 guard Dellatto.

"I don't know how Talia did it," said Cormier. "You have Talia, who is about 5-7, defending Vonleh who almost a foot taller than her. She is so tough and did a great job."

The always-dangerous Caveney struggled with her shot early, heading into halftime scoreless. But heated up in the third with seven points and added eight more fourth.

"I knew that I wasn't playing my best," said Caveney. "I just didn't see many opportunities in the first half, but in the second half I felt like the team needed me and I started to make a few baskets."

The victory was a major boost for the Golden Warriors, who have just Wednesday's makeup game against Lawrence before the tournament starts.

"It's always fun to celebrate with a plaque," said Dellatto. "We are playing well right now, and we are going to work to keep it going. This victory definitely puts us in the right mindset for the tournament."