Wed, Mar 08, 2017
05:30 PM @
Andover
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Billerica |
11 |
8 |
14 |
11 |
44 |
| Andover |
18 |
11 |
6 |
12 |
47 |
Casey late free throws lifts Andover past Billerica
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HAVERHILL — Senior forward Alyssa Casey was happy to get a second chance to seal the deal Wednesday night.
So was Andover coach E.J. Perry and the rest of the Andover girls basketball team in the Division 1 North semifinals at Whittier Tech.
Casey, who was shooting .778 from the line entering the game, missed a 1-and-1 with 29 seconds left and the Golden Warriors ahead, 45-44, giving the Indians a chance to knock off the No. 1 seed.
But, after four missed shots, one of which was blocked by Jillian Webber, the Warriors finally got the ball back with 7.6 seconds left. Following an Andover timeout, the Warriors inbounded the ball to Casey, who was promptly fouled, setting up another 1-and-1.
This time, Casey delivered, making both free throws to clinch a 47-44 victory to send the Warriors (21-1) into Saturday’s 4 p.m. finals against Woburn (20-3), also at Whittier.
“I was really excited (to get another chance),” said Casey. “I’m usually calm under pressure and I was telling myself to stay composed.”
Perry was confident in his 6-foot Merrimack College commit.
“That’s why we had her get the ball at the end,’ said Perry. “I said to throw it to Alyssa, nobody but her.”
Casey’s final two free throws capped a strong second half and gave her a game-high 19 points (including one 3-pointer and 6 of 7 from the line) to go along with eight rebounds.
Casey, who was injured almost her entire junior year, and classmate Webber were a one-two punch that proved too much for the scrappy Indians, if only barely.
Webber had all 11 of Andover’s points in the second quarter and backed Casey with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
“This is just incredible coming back from last year,” said Casey, the MVC Large MVP. “It just feels so good. I’m so happy to do this with this group.”
Casey and the Golden Warriors were on fire early. She hit her first three shots for seven points as Andover took a quick 10-0 lead and was ahead 18-6 before Billerica scored the last five points of the first quarter to narrow the gap to 18-11.
With Webber hitting 5 of 6 shots in the second quarter, Andover extended its lead to 29-19 at halftime. But then things started falling apart.
With Billerica applying good pressure defense, the Warriors made seven turnovers in the third quarter, getting only seven shots off and scoring six points. That allowed the Indians to claw to within two, 35-33.
The momentum shift continued early in the final period. Two free throws by MVC Division 2 Player-of-the- Year Caitlin Boermeester gave Billerica its first lead, 38-37, midway through the quarter. A basket by Emily Scurka made it 40-37.
The Warriors were reeling.
But that’s when Andover’s twin towers delivered. Webber sank two free throws, Casey scored underneath on an assist from Webber and Casey hit a jump shot, putting the Warriors back in the lead, 43-40, and setting the stage for the decisive final free throws.
Also vital to the Warriors’ victory was their defense on the talented Boermeester. After scoring eight points in the first half, she was held without a field goal in the second half and finished with just 10 points. Freshman Shea Krekorian had the defensive assignment for the Warriors much of the second half.
The regular-season matchup also was a thriller, a 43-41 Andover win on Jan. 27.
“I like what our girls did when they gave up the lead,” said Perry. “I think that’s the first time we’ve been behind since the first game of the season.
“I thought we could get here (North finals). We would have been here last year if we were healthy.”
Game Statistics:
Division 1 North Semifinal
Billerica (44): Jenna Balboni 4-0-12, Nicole Wedge 0-2-2, Kelsey Leverone 1-3-6, Caitlin Boermeester 2-5-10, Cassidy Peters 0-0-0, Maya Thompson 0-0-0, Haley Reinold 1-0-2, Emily Scurka 5-2-12. Totals 13-12-44
Andover (44): Shea Krekorian 1-0-3, Taylor Landry 2-0-4, Jillian Webber 6-4-16, Sara Sullivan 1-0-3, Aislinn McMahon 0-0-0, Gia Bramanti 1-0-2, Alexa Pacy 0-0-0, Megan Zalanskas 0-0-0, Alyssa Casey 6-6-19. Totals 17-10-47
3-pointers: B — Balboni 4, Leverone, Boermeester; A — Krekorian, Sullivan, Casey
