RallyNorth.net

Central keeps season alive

Friday, March, 02 By Jeff Hamrick

WESTFORD — Now that the Central girls have avenged three of their four regular season losses in the Division 1 North Sectionals, they get a chance to settle the score against the biggest rival of all.

The 12th-seeded Raiders pulled off their second consecutive upset last night, holding off fourth-seeded Westford 61-51 in the quarterfinals. With the victory, Central (14-8) advances to the sectional semifinals for the fifth straight year to play two-time defending state champion Andover.

“We didn’t expect this,” said sophomore forward Amanda Williams, who helped Central pull away from a one-point fourth quarter lead with some big defensive plays down the stretch. “We’ve come out better than most people thought. But it doesn’t matter what people think.”

Central never trailed after the first 45 seconds against Westford, which knocked off the Raiders 60-49 on Feb.. 14. After leading by as many as 13 in the first half, however, the Raiders saw their advantage dwindle until the Grey Ghosts, who tied the score at 40 with a minute left in the third quarter.

But despite a lineup that features three sophomores, Central out played the higher seed down the stretch.
“We came together and pushed each other and helped each other out,” said junior forward Casey McLaughlin, who scored a game-high 24 points, including 11 in the fourth. “We knew we could do it. We didn’t want to lose that lead.”

After Westford closed to within one on a three pointer 72 seconds into the fourth, Central cranked up it press to force five turnovers down the stretch. Williams had two steals and three of her 10 rebounds and Courtney Walsh, who scored 19 points, and McLaughlin combined to convert 13 of 15 fourth-quarter free-throw attempts to hold off the Grey Ghosts.

“We went to our full-court pressure, and we got some steals that I think gave us the energy we needed going down the stretch,” Central coach Sue Downer said.

Now the Raiders have a chance to ruin top-seeded Andover’s season in the semifinals at a place and time to be determined. The Warriors not only have defeated Central three times this season by an average of 19 points, but also have ended the Raiders postseason three of the past four seasons, including in last year’s sectional semis.