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Lee defeats Pentucket in Division 3 girls final

Print | Comments () Posted by Braden Campbell March 13, 2010 10:40 AM

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WORCESTER — Pentucket managed to contain an explosive Lee offense for the first two quarters of the Division 3 girls final at the DCU Center in Worcester, taking a four-point lead into the half.

Unfortunately for the Sachems, they still had 16 minutes left to play.

The stifling Wildcat defense was able to hold a tired Pentucket team to just 14 points in the second half while producing 32 of their own on the other side to earn their seventh state championship title since 1989, 56-42.

“We want to wear that other team down,” said Lee coach Gary Wellington. “ They couldn't hit the backboard in the last couple of minutes. We just wore them down.”

Lee's Katie Eckert put in a strong performance in the first quarter, following up a pair of free throws with back to back threes to give the Wildcats an early lead. The Sachems finished well, cutting Lee's lead to three by the end of the quarter.

Pentucket improved their efficiency in the second, out-shooting Lee 18-11 to lead 28-24 at half time.

An Eckert three-pointer cut that lead to three early in the third, and neither team was able to gain ground for much of the quarter. Deft late-period foul-shooting by Lee sisters Alex and Stephanie Young allowed the Wildcats to take a lead into the final quarter. The Wildcats exploded for 17 points in the fourth to take the win.

“This is what we've always been wanting to do, ever since we've been little we've wanted to be here,” Lee's Alex Young said. “It's amazing.”

Young had a tremendous day on both sides of the court, putting 20 points on the board and coming down with 15 rebound, while teammate Katie Eckert scored 15, nine of which came in the first quarter. Pentucket's Ashley Viselli accumulated 19 on the day. She and teammate Tess Nogueira each nabbed 9 rebounds.

Lee 56 Pentucket 42 at end of game

After a 17-6 scoring tilt in the fourth, Lee is the Division 3 champ.

Lee takes a timeout with Stephanie Young on the line with 1:49 left. Young has already sunk one of two to give the Wildcats a 49-40 lead late in the game.

Lee takes advantage of a desperate Pentucket team to go 5 for 7 from the line in the fourth and extend the lead. So far, scoring is 9-4 in the Wildcats' favor. Wildcats lead 48-40 with just over 3 minutes to go.

Higgins scores an early basket in the fourth to cut the Sachem lead, but baskets from Alex Young and Tara Dooley extend it again. 43-38 Lee as the Wildcats take a full timeout with 5 minutes left to play.

Lee 39 Pentucket 36 at end of third

Alex and Stephanie Young combine for four points from the foul line to close the third quarter. Wildcats lead Sachems by three.

Lee takes a time-out after an Ashley Viselli basket gives the Sachems a one-point lead. Score is 36-35 with 1:47 left in the quarter.

A quick three from Katie Eckert cuts Pentucket's lead to one at the start of the quarter. Little production from both teams so far in the second half. Pentucket leads 32-31 with 3:23 left.

Pentucket 28 Lee 24 at end of half

Pentucket closes the half on an 11-3 run to take a 28-24 lead with two quarters to go.

Back-to-back threes from Viselli and Higgins give Pentucket their first lead of the game. Tara Dooley gets fouled on a lay-up and hits the and-1 to cut that lead in half. Pentucket leads Lee 27-24 with just over a minute to go in the half.

Pentucket's Ashley Viselli hits a lay-up to tie the game at 21-all with just under three left.

The two teams have traded buckets for the first three minutes of the quarter. Close game, Lee ahead by 2 after a pair of Erin McNamara foul shots with about 5 minutes left.

Pentucket finishes the first quarter with a 4-0 run, cutting the Wildcat lead to three as time expires. Lee ahead 13-10 after one.

Strong foul shooting from Eckert and Julia Warner extends the Wildcat lead. Lee leads Pentucket 13-8 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

Eckert follows up the foul shots with a pair of back-to-back threes. Pentucket's Sarah Higgins and Tess Nogueira score to put the Sachems on the board. Lee leads 8-4 with three and a half minutes left in the first.

Lee's Katie Eckert is fouled driving to the basket, foul shots on target. Wildcats lead 2-0.

Poor passing from both sides is leading to quick turnovers. Still scoreless after a minute and a half.

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Bob Holmes: A Reading resident (Go Rockets!) and Boston College graduate, Holmes is the Boston Globe High School Sports Editor. We remind you now that his weekly picks are often made in jest so everyone just calm down when he picks against Everett for 11 straight weeks. Contact him at rholmes@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeHolmes.
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Zuri Berry: Berry attended the same high school as sports legends O.J. Simpson and Joe DiMaggio. (Guess which one is his hero.) He's a South Boston resident (formerly of Eastie) and the editor of the High School Sports blog as well as the go-to-guy for everything high school sports on Boston.com. Contact him at zberry@boston.com and follow him on Twitter @ZuriBerry for all of the latest updates.

Also expect updates from correspondents Seth Lakso (boys basketball), Hannah Becker (girls basketball), Craig Forde (boys hockey), Liz Torres (girls hockey), Ryan Mooney and a host of others. To reach the high school sports correspondents and Globe editors, e-mail hssports@globe.com.