Wed, Mar 15, 2017
08:00 PM @
Andover
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Braintree |
14 |
16 |
19 |
11 |
60 |
| Andover |
9 |
13 |
14 |
12 |
48 |
Braintree ousts Andover in state semis again
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WORCESTER — Most of Braintree’s roster had been there before. That much was clear.
While Andover was arguably the hottest team in the state (winners of 22 straight), the Golden Warriors ran into a buzzsaw which knew how to handle the nerves in Wednesday night’s Division 1 state semifinal from WPI.
Braintree had run the gauntlet through the South, flattening traditional powers Bishop Feehan (61-48 in South quarters), Newton South (53-38 in semis) and Mansfield (72-43 in final).
And that trend continued last night, as the Wamps built up a double-digit lead early and rode it all the way to a 60-48 victory over Andover.
The Warriors finished their season 22-2.
“It’s tough because they were beatable,” said Andover senior Alyssa Casey. “Braintree is a very good team, but we didn’t answer their run at us. We just had too many lapses, and they took advantage of it with their experiences.”
Braintree (21-4) featured a roster of five seniors, six juniors and a sophomore who have all played in big games. The Wamps have won five of the past six South titles, including two state championships in 2014 and 2015.
Casey (team-high 15 points) and Jillian Webber (12 points, 10 rebounds) lost in the state semifinal against Braintree at the TD Garden during their sophomore seasons. But the dynamic duo, arguably the best 1-2 punch in the state, was not enough to overcome the composed Wamps.
“The experience definitely came in,” said Perry. “You’re not going to be able to press (Braintree). Their ball movement is just a reflection of how much they’ve played together. You’re just not going to be able to deny passing lanes against a team that has been here so many times.”
Braintree, despite being heavily undersized, actually won the rebound battle 31-22.
The Wamps also knocked down nine 3-pointers, most of which came off of wide open looks following superb ball movement.
“We were trying to play up-tempo and press them to get (Andover’s) forwards away from the basket,” said Braintree coach Kristen McDonnell. “They have incredible half-court sets so we were trying to disrupt that as much as possible and pull them away.
“But we are incredibly unselfish. We have a balanced attack. No one is in it for themselves or is out for their own points. I thought we played smart tonight and played very aggressive.”
Braintree came out in the first half on fire. Senior Keelah Dixon (game-high 18 points) knocked down two threes and had 13 first-half points to put the Wamps up 30-22 at the break.
Andover tried to come back in the third. Gia Bramanti nailed a 3-pointer to cut it to 34-27, but Braintree’s Mackenzie Moore answered with a triple on the Wamps’ next possession. Taylor Landry and Bramanti fueled a 5-0 run at the end of the quarter, but an Isabella Tonetti trey made it 49-36 Braintree after three.
Braintree took as large as a 15-point lead midway through the fourth, but back to back Andover threes from Shea Krekorian and Bramanti cut it to 54-43 with 4:07 left. The Warriors got as close as 10, but were never able to cut the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter.
Casey and Webber both played admirably in the final games of their Hall of Fame careers, and Andover has to be pleased with the play of its young guns.
The sophomore Bramanti nailed three treys and finished with 11 points.
It was quite a rebound season for Andover, which went just 5-16 last year when Casey missed almost the entire year due to injury.
Braintree will play West champions Springfield Central in the state final. The time and date for that game have not yet been announced.
Braintree 60, Andover 48
ANDOVER (22-2): 9 13 14 12 48
BRAINTREE (21-4): 14 16 19 11 60
Division 1 State Semifinals
Andover (48): Shea Krekorian 1-0-3, Taylor Landry 1-2-5, Jillian Webber 4-4-12, Alyssa Casey 5-4-15, Gia Bramanti 4-0-11, Megan Zalanskas 0-0-0, Aislinn McMahon 1-0-2, Sarah Sullivan 0-0-0. Totals 16-10-48
Braintree (60): Adriana Timberlake 2-4-9, Jenna Roche 3-0-6, Keelah Dixon 6-3-18, Rachel Tutkus 1-2-4, Isabella Tonetti 3-0-8, Mackenzie Moore 4-0-11, Madeline Fay 2-0-4, Allyson Dillon 0-0-0. Totals 21-9-60
3-pointers: A — Bramanti 3, Landry, Krekorian, Casey; B — Dixon 3, Moore 3, Tonetti 2, Timberlake
Game Statistics:
Division 1 State Semifinal
at WPI
Braintree 60, Andover 48
ANDOVER (22-2): 9 13 14 12 48
BRAINTREE (21-4): 14 16 19 11 60
Division 1 State Semifinals
Andover (48): Shea Krekorian 1-0-3, Taylor Landry 1-2-5, Jillian Webber 4-4-12, Alyssa Casey 5-4-15, Gia Bramanti 4-0-11, Megan Zalanskas 0-0-0, Aislinn McMahon 1-0-2, Sarah Sullivan 0-0-0. Totals 16-10-48
Braintree (60): Adriana Timberlake 2-4-9, Jenna Roche 3-0-6, Keelah Dixon 6-3-18, Rachel Tutkus 1-2-4, Isabella Tonetti 3-0-8, Mackenzie Moore 4-0-11, Madeline Fay 2-0-4, Allyson Dillon 0-0-0. Totals 21-9-60
3-pointers: A — Bramanti 3, Landry, Krekorian, Casey; B — Dixon 3, Moore 3, Tonetti 2, Timberlake
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