RallyNorth.net

Mon, Feb 25, 2019 07:00 PM @ Haverhill

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Waltham	9	11	10	17	47
Haverhill	11	22	20	20	73

After long playoff drought, Hillies earn first postseason win in 16 years in blowout

Monday, February, 25 By Kyle Gaudette
Staff writer

HAVERHILL - The wait was long, but boy was it worth it for the Haverhill girls basketball team.

The Hillies hadn't even been in the North tourney in seven years. The last time they'd actually went on a run and won a playoff game, many of the girls on the current roster were still learning how to walk.

But, if you thought that history was going to hamper the Hillies in any way, they have just two words for ya: Who cares?

In dominating fashion, Haverhill, the No. 7 seed in Division 1 North, overwhelmed No. 10 Waltham, 73-47, for the program's first playoff win since the 2002-03 season. The Hillies (16-5) advance to the North quarters, where they'll play either No. 2 Peabody or No. 15 Chelmsford.

Do you want even more history? Haverhill hadn't reached 16 wins in a season since the 1998-99 team went 21-2.

"They love this game," said coach Melissa Tarpy. "The intensity, the heart they bring. We talk about mental focus, that's our words that we put on the board every single game. We talk about it every single practice. So it's the intensity that they bring, that true desire to go out and play this game.

"It's all about the hard work they bring day in and day out."

Nobody was working harder Monday night than Leandra Kwo.

Not only did the 5-foot-8 junior score 18 points while grabbing a whopping 20 rebounds, but she also had the task of guarding Waltham's talented Lauren Sampson - a 6-foot Providence commit who was averaging 23.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Sampson wound up with a team-high 17 points, but most of her damage came from beyond the arc late in the game. Kwo controlled the paint defensively, turning Sampson into a jump-shooter while limiting the Hawks to one shot per possession.

"It was more just making sure I played smart on my end," said Kwo on the defensive assignment. "Not only is she good in the paint but she's a shooter as well, so I just had to make sure I was always on her and up at all times to make her work for every shot."

After a rough, nerved-filled first quarter for both teams, Haverhill finally settled into its run-and-gun offense in the second. Freshman point guard Kendall Eddy (14 points) drilled three 3s, as the Hillies put on a full-court press that caused turnovers and changed the game to a frantic tempo. 

The Hillies thrived in the fast-paced play, taking a 33-20 lead into the half.

And it was more of the same after the break. Junior Christina Firek came off the bench and provided a huge spark, scoring 10 of her 18 points in the second half. Haverhill led 53-30 heading into the fourth quarter, and Waltham (12-9) never got closer than 19 in the final frame.

Besides Eddy, fellow freshman Kya Burdier wasn't fazed by the big stage either, scoring 10 points. McKayla Dingle (6 points, 8 rebounds) and Latasha Settles (3 points, 7 rebounds) also played well. The Hillies dominated on the glass, out-rebounding Waltham 51-31.

"This feels so good," said Kwo. "We've been working so hard for this all season long. So to come together like this feels just so good, I can't even describe it."

It's been seven years since they've been here, but, at least on Monday night, it looks like the Hillies might be around for a while.

"I'm just so excited to see what's going to become of us," said Kwo. "This year, it's Haverhill's time to shine."

 

 

UP NEXT

Here is what information is currently available about Haverhill's next game.

When: TBA

Where: Either at Haverhill or at Peabody.

Opponent: Either No. 2 Peabody (19-1) or No. 15 Chelmsford (10-10).

Against Chelmsford: W (47-32), W (57-42)

Against Peabody: NA

 

Haverhill 73, Waltham 47

Division 1 North First Round

Waltham (47): Breah LaForest 5 0-1 13, Lulu Ohm 3 2-3 9, Kenzie DeMeo 0 0-0 0, Lauren Sampson 7 0-0 17, Sheridan Blaha 1 1-2 3, Julia Sampson 1 0-1 3, Gena Divito 0 0-0 0, Destiny Riley 1 0-0 2, Juliana Salvucci 0 0-0 0, Julia Scafidi 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3-7 47

Haverhill (73): Leandra Kwo 9 0-3 18, McKayla Dingle 2 0-0 6, Kendall Eddy 5 0-0 14, Kya Burdier 4 2-3 10, Latasha Settles 1 0-2 3, Christina Firek 5 6-6 18, Brianna Constabile 1 0-0 2, Lindsay Joubert 0 0-0 0, Carli Quinlan 0 0-0 0, Jada Burdier 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 8-14 73

3-pointers: H - Eddy 4, Dingle 2, Firek 2, Settles; W - LaForest 3, L. Sampson 3, Ohm, J. Simpson

Waltham (12-9):      9 11 10 17 - 47

Haverhill (16-5):     11 22 20 20 - 73