RallyNorth.net

Beating an opponent three times in one season is never easy, and Newburyport gave Pentucket all it could handle in the second round of the Div. 3 North state tournament.

But, once again the Sachem defense proved to be too tough to crack for the Clippers, as Pentucket moved on to face Swampscott in the North sectional semifinals with the win, 46-32.

After winning the Commonwealth Conference Small division, Presentation of Mary had high hopes of a long state tournament run.

Instead, the No. 7 Panthers ran into ferocious Newburyport, which overwhelmed PMA, 49-28, in the first round of the Division 3 North tourney.

The 2007-08 Clippers don't have star power like in years past with a Kristin Degou.

They're also not like the 2007 state champion Clipper girls soccer team, which was loaded with big-name players. Winning a state championship is most likely not in their imminent future despite having several members of that soccer team on the basketball squad.

Throw Pentucket out of the River Rival equation on the girls side and after another season of terrific action it has been hard to figure out the remaining three teams | Amesbury, Newburyport, and Triton.

With a state tournament berth on the line, it was Newburyport that was able to survive a battle of attrition over Triton, 37-35, ending the Vikings' four-game winning streak.

Things were not going according to plan for the Clippers in the first half, as Nicki Wurdeman and the Viking gang romped out to a 21-13 halftime lead.

Before each game the Newburyport girls basketball team unite in song, sharing a common belief with Diana Ross.

Spreading their message loud and clear, the Clippers (8-6) understand that there "ain't no mountain high enough."

It took 3 1/2 quarters for the Newburyport girls basketball team to impose its will on visiting Lawrence last evening. But the final four minutes proved to be the most important in the Clippers' 55-43 victory.

Trailing 51-48 with 15.7 seconds to spare in last night's game against Wilmington, Newburyport found itself down three points with only one realistic possession to tie the score. Clippers co-captain Taylor Hickman brought the ball up the court under duress and found Lindsey Tomasz off the curl for an open look.

Newburyport sophomore Lindsay Tomacz has seen her share of pressure situations as goalie of the Division 3 state champion soccer team.

But her soccer talents couldn't help her last night when she came to the free throw line four times in the closing three minutes of a River Rival game with Georgetown.

NEWBURYPORT | No pep talk was needed last evening when Newburyport girls basketball coach Neil Reardon addressed his team prior to its showdown with rival Amesbury.

Two bitter defeats were fresh on the minds of his players.