Worcester South reaches D2 semis
Every time the game got close, Worcester South had an answer.
The sixth-seeded Colonels splashed 12 3-pointers Saturday en route to a 71-46 victory over No. 3 Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) at Norwell High to reach the Division 2 girls’ basketball semifinals.
Worcester South will face seventh-seeded Northampton, a 5552 winner over No. 2 Walpole, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Chicopee Comp.
Senior Naima Bleou (16 points, 10 rebounds) and sophomore Madi Leighton (12 points) each hit four from beyond the arc.
“We handled the pressure well,” said South coach Diago McClain. “That’s what I was most proud of. They held their composure. They hit big shots when we needed it.”
Junior Bryan Bascones registered 18 points and eight rebounds for South (22-1), and senior Anitsy Robles recorded her first career triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).
Sophomore Ava McCollom and freshman Lydia Charlonne were strong guarding the perimeter, holding sisters Ava and Elle Orlando to 10 combined points.
“We work hard,” said Robles. “We’re all together as a team.”
It was another step forward for Notre Dame (21-2), which reached the quarters after losing to a finalist in the first round last year.
“We came up short today, but overall I’m just so proud of what this team has been able to accomplish,” said Notre Dame coach Nickie Orlando, who got a game-high 19 from junior Effie Giannopoulos.
Division 1 State
Springfield Central 59, Central Catholic 40 — The third-seeded Golden Eagles (20-3) were everywhere defensively, forcing 20 turnovers and holding the No. 6 Raiders (18-5) to just 26 percent shooting from the field to advance to a semifinal matchup against No. 2 Wachusett Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Worcester State.
Angela Hector scored 14 points and Alaysia Hondon and Tyler Swan had 11 points apiece, but defense won the matchup as the Eagles allowed 14 points over the second and third quarters to open a 15-point lead heading into the final frame.
Division 4 State Tyngsborough 45, Bourne 42 — Gianna Donato (game-high 22 points) netted the tying basket and sank the go-ahead free throw, and Katie O’Keefe (11 points) drained a decisive 3pointer as the second-seeded Tigers (22-1) earned the win over No. 3 Bourne (20-3) and a semifinal matchup against thirdseeded South Hadley on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Worcester State.