RallyNorth.net

Peabody girls cruise past Billerica in first round tournament rout

Monday, February, 25 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

PEABODY | The past two seasons, the Peabody High girls basketball team has been a victim of first round upsets in the state tournament.

Not this season, though.

The Tanners cleared their first postseason hurdle with a 64-38 win over Billerica last night in the first round of the Division 1 North playoffs at Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse.

After the opening minutes, fifth-seeded Peabody (16-5) took charge and led the rest of the way.

Four Tanners were in double figures, led by guards Michelle Grifoni and Alyssa Manoogian with 13 points apiece. Tawny Palmieri added 11 points and five assists, and Lindsey Consoles added 10 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Grifoni also pulled down six rebounds.

"We were all pumped up for this game, especially since the last couple of years we've been one-and-done," said Manoogian. "We wanted to do all the little things right tonight | box out, rebound, and make our foul shots.

"We knew Billerica's guards were very good. They ran and ran all game, but the key was getting back on transition."

Peabody head coach Jane Heil, whose team advanced to Friday's North quarterfinals, where they'll play the winner of tonight's game between Lynn Classical and Lexington, was pleased with her team's overall defensive effort.

"The key was we made better decisions when we ran | when to go right to the hoop and when to ease up," said Heil. "We finally brought our 'A' game, and in my mind it all came down to decision making."

She and her husband, assistant coach Bob Heil, scouted Billerica against Malden last week. After watching them, Heil said it gave her a "comfort level."

Knowledge is power, and it helped to get a first hand look at them," she said. "I'm very happy we kept out turnovers under 20 (19). We've had 30 some games and still won, but in my mind that was the key to this game."

Peabody had a big height advantage, with 6-foot-1 forwards Consoles and Kristen Federico (who had 7 points, a team-high 7 rebounds and a block). Those two did damage inside while guards Grifoni, Palmieri and Manoogian used their quickness to play the uptempo game with the visitors.

Manoogian came off the Tanners' bench to score 11 points in the second quarter when her team built up a 20-point cushion by intermission. For the game. Manoogian made 8-of-10 from the foul line.

"Peabody was a tough matchup for us," said Billerica (10-11) coach Mike McCarthy. "We were prepared for them, but we didn't box out and our shooting was cold from the field."

The Tanners opened up a big lead in the second quarter with a 13-0 run keyed by Manoogian, Grifoni and Palmieri. Manoogian drained a 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer to put her team on top, 36-16.

"They were a very physical team which we really weren't expecting. When you play a big team, you get hacked a lot," said Manoogian. "They didn't have the size, but they were very aggressive. It was a fun game to play though."

"It was a real fight under the boards," added Consoles.

"They were in our faces all game, but we came through as a team.

"Alyssa did an awesome job. She is a very good point guard and distributes the ball well."