South High tops Leominster for Class A title

WORCESTER — The top-seeded South girls basketball team held on to beat Leominster for the third time this season and capture the Central Mass. Class A Tournament championship Thursday afternoon at Worcester State’s Brissette Court, but after appreciatively accepting their title plaque, the Colonels didn’t do much celebrating.

South, admittedly, did not play well at the offensive end in the 46-40 victory. Still, the Colonels proved something as they prepare for the Division 2 state tournament.

“It shows they have the ability to beat teams whether or not they’re scoring,” South assistant coach Sam O’Gara said. “We really are built off defense, and when things are not going our way offensively, we just have to try to dig deep defensively and try to pull out the win.”

O’Gara spoke on behalf of coach Diago McClain, who lost his voice during the game.

South (19-1) rides a 15-game winning streak into the state tourney. The MIAA releases brackets Saturday. The Colonels were No. 8 in the latest power rankings. “We have a lot of things we need to work on,” South senior guard Jaiyla Colon said, “and to mentally prepare for games like these.”

The 46 points tied for the second fewest South scored in a game this season. In their only loss, the Colonels fell to Cathedral, 60-46. South opened the year with a 45-23 win over Nashoba Regional.

The third-seeded Blue Devils held South well below its season scoring average (68.4 points per game).

“Their defense makes us play tougher,” said South senior forward Anitsy Robles, who scored 12 points, all in the second half. “I’m grateful to get this win.”

South snapped Leominster’s sevengame winning streak.

Earlier in the year, South beat Leominster, 59-43 and 60-34.

“Our plan was to try to stay in touch with them after one quarter, after two quarters,” Leominster coach Rusty Frederick said. “The third quarter is usually where it gets away from us against them, but we hung in and battled through. Our team is battle-tested now, and they believe, and they’re tough. I love their makeup.”

The six-point margin of victory was the lowest for South, which has been beating teams by an average of 28.4 points.

“We haven’t had many close games,” Colon said, “but when we do come across games like this, it makes us better. That’s what’s going to happen in states, so we have to prepare for that. I think this game helped us a lot.”

South advanced to the second round of the state tournament each of the last two seasons.

It is possible the Colonels and Blue Devils meet again in the state tourney. Leominster (12-8) was No. 17 in the latest D2 power rankings.

Leominster junior Mia Keenan scored a game-high 15 points, and classmate Frankie Bello added 11.

Freshman Lydia Charlonne led South with 14 points.

South’s smothering defense came up with five steals in the first 3 minutes, but the Colonels struggled to capitalize on the takeaways. With three 3-pointers, Charlonne scored nine of South’s firstquarter points, and the Colonels led, 10-7, after one.

Each team managed just two field goals in the second quarter. South led, 16-11, at halftime.

The Colonels, led by Robles, picked up their offense in the third, and Robles’ floater to open the fourth gave South its largest lead, 32-21.

The Blue Devils didn’t back down. Bello and senior Kyra Forsberg made back-to-back baskets to keep their team within five, and, with 47 seconds left, Keenan’s 3-pointer made it a 3-point game.

Junior Bryan Bascones and Charlonne combined to make 3 of 4 free throws in the final seconds to close it out.

Senior Naima Bleou, the Colonels’ leading scorer who poured in 20 points in the Central Mass. semifinal win over Shrewsbury, came down hard on her ankle under the South basket with 1:52 left in the first quarter. She went to the bench, but returned with 3:36 left in the second quarter and played the entire second half. She said after the game her ankle was feeling better.

The Blue Devils held Bleou to four points.

“We just have to be close with each other in order for us to win,” Bleou said. “If we weren’t close, we would have fallen apart. As long as we stay together, we are good.”

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.