RallyNorth.net

Pentucket stumbles late, falls in showdown with Masco

Wednesday, January, 16 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

If it had been up to him, Pentucket coach John McNamara would have drawn up another game plan and immediately sent his troops back on the court after the final horn had sounded last night.

After trailing for three quarters, the Sachems fought back to build a six-point fourth quarter advantage, only to let it slip away down the stretch in a 55-53 loss to Masconomet. The win boosted the Chieftains into first in the CAL Large (8-1, 5-0 CAL) ahead of previously unbeaten Pentucket (10-1, 4-1 CAL).

McNamara wasn't in the mood to find positives on the way out of the gym.

"Nah, we lost. We'll move on. We don't see them in the tournament, but we wish we did," McNamara said. "They're a good team and we hope they go on to win the North sectionals, but it's hard to take something from a loss. We're a good team and we want to win."

It was the first time this season Pentucket didn't win, and the loss is a major blow to the Sachems' Cape Ann League Division 1 title hopes.

Masconomet moved to 5-0 in the league, while Pentucket (10-1) slipped to 4-1. The CAL schedule is set up so teams only play once, meaning the Sachems have no chance at revenge. They also need to get some help to contend for the title again.

The Masco celebration on the court after the game had the feel that a championship was won. If nothing else it spoke of the intensity level that the game was played at.

It may only be mid-January, but it seemed like March with these two powerhouses squaring off. Masco is ranked fifth in Eastern Mass., three places in front of the Sachems.

"That was the most intense regular season game since I've been here," sixth-year Masconomet coach Bob Romeo said. "Part of the difference tonight was the home court."

An 11-0 Masco run early in the fourth quarter turned a five-point deficit into a six-point lead (48-42) in less than three minutes.

An Erin McNamara drive and 3-pointer sandwiched six straight points from Andi Attenasio during the run. The spurt put what had been a confident Chieftain team back on its heels, and seemed to be the difference-maker. But Masco responded.

Jamie White (game-high 21 points) and Boston University recruit Caroline Stewart combined for 11 points down the stretch and Masco converted 7 o -9 free throws in the final 4:11.

Even with a six-point lead in the fourth, McNamara didn't feel comfortable.

"You don't feel comfortable until it's over, and even then sometimes you don't feel comfortable," McNamara said. "We knew they were going to battle back."

Attenasio and Erin McNamara each scored 20 points to lead the Sachems, while Stewart (14) paced Masco.