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Pinkerton, Lowell easily advance

Monday, December, 20 By Jeff Hamrick

METHUEN — Pinkerton and Lowell went at it in different ways, but both routed opponents last night in the first round of the Greater Lawrence Girls Christmas Tourney at Methuen High School.

Pinkerton remained undefeated by dominating the opening quarter en route to a 59-17 victory over rival Salem while Lowell ran away from Lawrence in the second half for a 56-35 win.

The year’s first snow fall had no adverse affect on Pinkerton as the Astros (4-0) scored the game’s first 26 points in their rout of the Blue Devils (1-3).

Four different players combined to make Pinkerton’s first five field-goal attempts and the Astros converted 10 of their first 13 shots from the field. By the end of the opening quarter they had made four of six from 3-point range and led 26-3.

“This year, we’re faster, but we’re not really patient,” senior point guard Danielle Kimball said. “That’s what we’re trying to work on is patience, but right now going fast is sort of working for us I guess.”

Kimball, who has been Pinkerton’s top scorer in all four games, established a new season high with 14 points in a first half that included four 3’s in seven attempts.

“I’ve been confident lately,” said Kimball, who added three assists. “It feels real good because last year I wasn’t very consistent. So, I was aiming to be more consistent this year, and it feels good to be doing that.”

Salem (1-3) was without senior center Jennifer Bujnowski and junior guard Stephanie Long, who both suffered a concussion in the Blue Devils’ win at Londonderry on Friday, and head coach Liz Briggs, who is in New York attending to family matters. Assistant coach John Gatsas found out yesterday morning he’d be taking over the reins.

“It’s a little different,” Gotsas said. “The kids knew what they had to do. I don’t think we were as focused as we could’ve been, but that Pinkerton team shot lights out in the first quarter. That kind of put us in a hole, but we didn’t play with the fire in your belly kind of intensity that we should’ve. We’re a much better team that we showed.”

Kimball finished with a game-high 17 points while sophomore Samanta Breslin came off the bench to score 13 points and added seven steals. Despite holding Salem to four points or fewer in three quarters and forcing 28 turnovers, Pinkerton coach John Barry wouldn’t allow himself to get too excited.

“I’m never too pleased with anything at the beginning of the year,” he said. “No matter what it is, because I know what’s coming later. We haven’t played the best teams yet. Salem was without their center, so I know they’ll be better.”

LOWELL WINS FIRST GAME OF SEASON

After playing previously winless Lowell close the first 12 minutes, Lawrence was unable to contain senior center Tess Cigliano in the second half as the Red Raiders (1-2) downed the Lancers (2-3) and advanced to play Pinkerton in Monday’s semifinals.

Lawrence grabbed a 16-15 lead on a jumper by Franshelly Tejeda with 4:20 left in the second quarter, but the Red Raiders scored the final six points of the half and the first four in the third to take the lead for good.

“The aggressiveness is there at times,” Lowell coach Dan Blouin said. “We’re smart at times but we also have a lot of young kids playing who haven’t had a lot of minutes before, so that’s the hard part of building ... We’ll be alright. it’s a learning process. It’s a marathon not a sprint.”

Cigliano scored 13 of her game-high 17 points after intermission to help Lowell extend its lead.

“I think we did a good job against her at times,” Blouin said. “We just got stagnant or stale at times.”

Angelice Gonzalez had 11 points and Tejeda added nine for Lawrence.