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Fenway ousts No. 1 Whittier

HAVERHILL — With time ticking down in the third quarter, Whittier’s Emma Saulnier posted up in the right corner and drilled a 3-pointer to a huge roar from the Whittier faithful.

There was life.

After letting out a scream, she got a huge high-five from teammate Xciana Flores as she ran back on defense, and hugs all around in the huddle after the quarter ended. The top-seeded Wildcats had trailed by as many as 17 in the third, but Saulnier’s trey made it a 46-41 game heading into the fourth.

But the momentum couldn’t be sustained, and Whittier fell to No. 8 Fenway Saturday night 68-54 in the Division 4 North semifinals.

Normally the team with the height advantage down low with 6-foot twin sisters Allison and Olivia Beauchesne as well as 5-foot-10 Grace Efosa, Whitter found itself undersized last night. The Wildcats (22-3) were out-rebounded 45-35.

“We knew scouting them that their girls were a little bigger,” said Whittier coach Kevin Bradley. “But I was so proud of Olivia and Allison and Grace, they still battled and got some big rebounds. (Fenway) just started on a little bit of a run in the fourth and we couldn’t match it.”

Saturday was a battle of two stellar freshmen, with Whittier’s Efosa going up against Fenway’s Nattaly David. Both ended up leading their respective teams in scoring.

David nailed three 3-pointers and had 11 first quarter points to put the Panthers up 16-9 after the frame. She finished with 15 first half points and a game-high 24 points overall.

But Efosa ended her breakout frosh season with 20 points, closing her season scoring average at 14.8 ppg. Down 30-19 at the break, she fueled Whittier’s third-quarter comeback with 12 points in the frame, slashing to the basket and getting a couple key Panthers in foul trouble.

“We told our girls at half enough with the threes, just go to the basket,” said Bradley. “Then we got it to like six at the end of the third and I said ‘This is it.’ But we made some fouls and just missed some shots down the stretch.”

Fenway advances to play No. 4 Mystic Valley in the D4 North semis Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Whittier seniors Xciana Flores (9 points), Chibazo Onwuka (6 points), Saulnier (3 points), Allison Beauchesne (8 points, 8 rebounds) and Olivia Beauchesne (3 points, 9 rebounds) all finished their careers nicely.

“If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that we would have a 16-game winning streak, be seeded No. 1 and have only two losses in 24 games I would have told you you were crazy,” said Bradley.

“It was a great year. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of seniors. And I think they showed the underclassmen what they have to do for next year.”

Fenway 68, Whittier 54

Division 4 North Quarterfinals

Fenway (68): Shania Tarver 3 3-5 9, Dasiah Thornton 1 1-4 4, Me’ara Carter 6 4-4 16, Nattaly David 6 7-8 24, Janayah Gulley 2 1-2 5, Christina Edwards 3 2-2 8, Asya Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Crisalida Chaplin 0 0-0 0, Imani Terry 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 18-25 68

Whittier (54): Kayle Hobbs 1 0-0 2, Olivia Beauchesne 1 1-2 3, Xciana Flores 3 2-3 9, Grace Efosa 6 8-14 20, Allison Beauchesne 4 0-0 8, Kaley Thibault 1 0-2 3, Emma Saulnier 1 0-0 3, Chibazo Onwuka 2 2-2 6, Hannah Dalton 0 0-2 0, Kelleigh Greaney 0 0-0 0, Mally Falk 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 13-25 54

3-pointers: W — Flores, Thibault, Saulnier; F — David 5, Thornton

Fenway (14-7): 16 14 16 22 — 68

Whittier (22-3):  9 10 22 13 — 54