RallyNorth.net

Hornets must keep eyes on the big prize

Monday, March, 10 By Matt Langone
Staff writer

They got there.

Now it's all about making the most of their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

They refers to the Manchester Essex girls basketball team and there refers to Boston's TD Banknorth Garden, which is where the Hornets will play Cohasset tomorrow (2:30 p.m.) for the Division 4 state title. Manchester Essex (16-8) punched its ticket to the home of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of the first-place Celtics with a dramatic 59-56 overtime victory over No. 3 Mt. Alvernia on Friday in the North final at Salem State College. Meanwhile, Cohasset (22-2) gained entry to the Garden by knocking off Millis, 42-30, in the South final.

When the Hornets take the court on Tuesday, one of the tasks will be to avoid being in awe of playing on the biggest basketball stage that New England has to offer. Of course, that will also be a task for the other seven teams playing that day.

It's a job that's easier said than done.

Who wouldn't be in awe of playing in a building with a capacity of around 19,000? Who wouldn't be in awe of playing in a building with 16 NBA championship banners hanging from the rafters? Who wouldn't be in awe of playing in a building that every young basketball player in the state dreams of some day playing in?

But the outcome of each of Tuesday's games will indeed be impacted, a least a little bit, by how each team can harness those overwhelming emotions.

Fortunately for the Hornets, it's an element that should play into their favor.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a tougher-minded team in the state tourney than the Hornets. Seeded ninth in the North, Manchester Essex has defeated four higher-seeded teams en route to the state championship game. The green and white have traveled to Lynn, Roxbury, Malden and a standing-room only Twohig Gymnasium at Salem State College to win in the postseason.

They are a squad that doesn't seem to get rattled. Not even when they trailed by six with 2:30 to go and hadn't been able to buy a shot all night. That was the case three days ago, before Manchester Essex ultimately pulled out the overtime thriller to win the North.

Manchester Essex is battle-tested after playing in the mighty Cape Ann League during the regular season and taking some lumps from larger schools. Despite those lumps, the Hornets remained positive.

Finally, the Hornets are a team that just seem to have the all-important intangible of chemistry. Each player puts the team ahead of herself, as evidenced by the fact that the team's leading scorer (Dani Ciccone) averages just 10.3 points per game.

Win or lose tomorrow, the community has plenty of reason to be proud of what this small high school in Manchester has accomplished. But you get the feeling that this is a team on a mission, and focus won't be a problem.