RallyNorth.net

DANVERS -- Danvers girls basketball coach Pat Veilleux has a pretty good idea about what makes Masconomet special.

"Confidence, experience, and coaching. Those are the only things I can think of right now," Veilleux said after the Falcons fell, 57-35, at the hands of the Chieftains in the first round of the North Shore High School Hoop Invitational Saturday night.

It was Senior Night at Danvers High School. It proved to be an excellent motivator for the Falcons girls basketball team.

"I'm glad we got to have it at home," Coach Pat Veilleux said. "We had a good crowd come out for it and it really got the girls going."

Jenna Mazzaferro cut baseline, posted on the left block and made a spinning layup to tie the score with just 34 seconds to play.

The Swampscott senior captain converted the hoop with such confidence that it appeared to be a designed play out of the timeout Big Blue coach Jack Hughes had just called.

It wasn't the type of follow-up game Danvers' Danielle Sherry was looking for, but not even a heart-breaking overtime loss to Lynn English could take away the magic Sherry felt after reaching 1,000 points a game earlier.

If Danvers High's Danielle Sherry was extremely nervous in her quest for 1,000 career points last night, she didn't show it on the court.

Sherry needed eight points for 1,000. She ended up scoring eight of the Falcons' first 10 points and finished with 22 as Danvers topped Lynn Classical, 47-38. Danvers has won six of its last seven to improve to 8-4.

Danielle Sherry is only eight points away from reaching the coveted 1,000-point mark after pumping in 32 in Danvers' 65-38 win over Salem last night.

Sherry was explosive all night, hitting three unanswered shots to key a 21-0 run by the Falcons in the first quarter after the Witches went up, 6-0 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Karly Henderson and Ashley White to start the game.

A third North Shore player will join the 1,000-point club soon. Danielle Sherry, Danvers' senior guard, is knocking on the door and should reach the milestone in the next couple weeks.

When she does hit the mark, she'll join recent 1,000-point club inductees Caroline Stewart of Masconomet and Amber Smith of Ipswich.

Part of the excitement of covering girls basketball is following the teams as they make a run for state tournament qualification down the stretch.

Unfortunately, it seems there won't be many teams to root for in such a capacity this winter.

Danvers girls basketball coach Pat Veilluex looks over his roster and likes the talent, experience and leadership the Falcons will feature this winter.

Then, he peers at his team's schedule and wonders where the wins will come from.

Last year's record: 11-10 (lost to Masconomet, 65-35, in Division 2 North first round)

Coach: Pat Veilleux (2nd season)

Key returnees: Cate DiNitto, Sr. F; Ashley Burnham, Sr. G/F; Danielle Sherry, Sr. G; Stephanie Costas, Sr. G/F; Erica Veilleux, Jr. G; Bailey Potter, Jr. G; Taylor Cross, Jr. F.