Instant offense off the bench

But ask coach Karen Pinkos about Carrington, who helped lead Marblehead High to three straight Northeastern Conference championships, and she’ll tell you the 5-foot-11 senior forward is a most valuable commodity coming off the bench.

Case in point: In a recent 65-53 win over Adelphi, Carrington scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds. All in 27 minutes and all off the bench. The 29-point explosion was the most by an SNHU player since Kristy Woodill poured in 34 against Bryant Jan. 2, 2000.

“She’s a very gifted athlete,’’ said Pinkos, now in her fifth year as head coach. “She has incredible offensive and rebounding skills, is quick to the basket, plays hard, and is, no doubt, a player who helps us win.

“It’s not that she doesn’t deserve to start, it’s that she’s in her comfort zone coming off the bench and providing a spark. I really don’t look at who starts and who doesn’t, but I can tell you she is an important part of this team.’’

Coincidentally, after coming off the bench the first 15 games this season, Carrington received her first start last Tuesday against St. Rose. It was not because Pinkos had a change of heart but because junior guard Libby Cullerot of Henniker, N.H., had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. She responded with 16 points and five rebounds in a 65-57 loss.

“Having [Carrington] start just seemed like a right fit,’’ said Pinkos. “If it works, we will keep her in there. If not, someone else will start. I don’t think Ashara gets caught up in whether she starts or not.

“She is a most valuable asset off the bench. She watches and learns and then three or four minutes into the game, someone might get into foul trouble, and in she comes. And when she comes in she makes an instant difference. The minute she’s on the court, the other team has to adjust.’’

In 23.5 minutes per night, Carrington is the team’s second-leading scorer (12.6 points) and rebounder (6.9 rebounds) behind senior guard and cocaptain Jenny McDade (Derry, N.H.) (14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 28.1 minutes).

Four years ago, Carrington was Marblehead’s senior captain and MVP, averaging 16.2 points and 11.1 rebounds, en route to her third straight All-Northeastern Conference selection. She finished her high school career with more than 1,000 points. She was always a starter.

“I had just one start my freshman year at SNHU and then 11 as a sophomore,’’ she recalled. “I had a discussion with Coach Pinko, and we both agreed I appeared to be more comfortable coming in off the bench. I have no preference now. It doesn’t really matter to me, because I know I’ll be playing and getting my minutes. I feel as long as the team is doing well and we’re putting the best combination on the floor and we get a W, that’s all that counts.’’

Carrington called her start against St. Rose “exciting, but a bittersweet moment because it came after a teammate got hurt.’’

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