RallyNorth.net

Thu, Dec 28, 2017 07:45 PM @ Pentucket

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Westford Academy	10	10	8	17	45
Pentucket	10	10	11	11	42

Pentucket can’t hold late lead against Westford

Friday, December, 29 By Kyle Gaudette
Staff writer

LAWRENCE - On Wednesday, it was Pentucket that converted down the stretch in the opening round of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic, capped by a Liv Cross layup in the closing seconds of a 1-point victory.

But on Thursday, No. 6 Pentucket couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead against an experience Westford team, falling to the second-seeded Grey Ghosts 45-42. The Sachems got a good look at a game-tying three at the buzzer, but it hit off the front iron.

"I think (Westford ) just wanted it more. They killed us on the boards," said Pentucket coach John McNamara. "I just thought they out-worked us, and yeah they made some plays at the end and we didn't. Give credit to Westford, they earned it." 

Westford (6-0) won the rebounding battle 40-26.

Pentucket (3-1) didn't have an answer for Westford's Elizabeth Arnold. The 5-7 senior tri-captain had a game-high 24 points, and also came away with 14 huge rebounds.

She hit a big three with just over a minute left to give the Grey Ghosts a 43-38 lead.

"They're a good, veteran team of strong kids," said McNamara. "We just needed to do a better job of rebounding. They weren't bigger than us they just wanted it more."

A tie game at the half, Pentucket took a 31-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter. But Westford opened the final frame on an 8-2 run and did not give up the lead. A Cross putback layup tied it at 38-38 midway through the quarter, but Arnold put Westford back on top on its next possession off free throws.

Cross led the way for Pentucket with 12 points, and sophomore Casey Hunt added 10.

A bright spot for the Sachems was sparkplug Maddie Doyle.

She hit a pair of threes and had the tall task of shadowing Stonehill-bound Emily Bramanti on defense.

But Doyle held her own, holding Bramanti to eight points on two field goals.

"Maddie worked her tail off on a really good point guard," said McNamara, who Sachems will play Andover in the third-place game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. As for Westford, it will play top-seeded Bishop Guertin in the finals Saturday at 5 p.m. It will be a rematch of one of last year's semifinals, won by the Cardinals.

 

 

Westford Academy 45, Pentucket 42

Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic Semifinals

Pentucket (42): Bella Doyle 1 1-1 3, Casey Hunt 3 4-4 10, Maddie Doyle 2 0-0 6, Angelina Yacubacci 2 0-0 4, Liv Cross 5 2-3 12, Angelica Hurley 0 0-0 0, Jess Galvin 1 0-0 3, Arielle Celveland 1 0-0 2, MacKenzie Currie 0 0-0 0, Sarah Kern 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 7-8 42

Westford (45): Morgan Rose 2 0-0 4, Carolyn Graham 1 0-0 3, Emily Bramanti 2 3-3 8, Alli Mulhern 0 0-2 0, Elizabeth Arnold 6 10-11 24, Ally Giovino 2 2-4 6, Jen Martin 0 0-0 0, Ellie Nolan 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 15-20 45

3-pointers: W - Arnold 2, Bramanti, Graham; P - M. Doyle 2, Galvin

Westford (6-0): 10 10  8 17 - 45

Pentucket (3-1): 10 10 11 11 - 42