webster - Southbridge Evening News

12 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, February 27, 2009
www.webstertimes.net
SPORTS
Colonels overpower Hill in fourth
RAMS’ RUN IN POSTSEASON CONCLUDES
BY NICK ETHIER
SPORTS STAFF WRITER
WORCESTER — The South High
basketball team was able to stay
with Shepherd Hill through three
quarters Feb. 23, and then rode a 19-
9 run in the fourth to pick up a win
over the Rams in the first round of
Division 1 play in the Central
Massachusetts tournament.
The No. 8 Colonels (13-8) were led
by Emmanuel Feraud, who scored a
game-high 20 points.
Asked about the successful
fourth quarter, South coach Patrick
Williams said, “Eight minutes, I
just told the kids to dig in.”
Leading by only one, 51-50,
through three quarters, the
Colonels employed a tough man-toman
defense that limited the Rams
to only nine points in the quarter.
Good ability driving to the basket
also helped South, who scored
many points via layups.
But the first three quarters were
tightly contested, and Shepherd
Hill started off strong, leading 20-12
after one period of play.
Six steals also played a part in the
Rams grabbing an early lead.
A Brian Westgate 3-pointer early
in the second put Shepherd Hill up
10, but South finished the half on a
15-6 run to trail by only one, 32-31, at
halftime.
“We did what we wanted to do,
but in the third quarter we let them
Nick Ethier photos
South point guard Hugh Daye tries to make his way through multiple Shepherd Hill
defenders.
pierce the zone,” Shepherd Hill
coach Duane Corriveau said.
Even though the Rams were only
outscored by two points in the third
(20-18), Corriveau noticed how
South was able to get easy hoops.
The teams exchanged buckets
throughout the period, as the lead
changed hands eight times.
But then the Rams became
turnover prone, which changed the
course of the game. South finished
with 17 steals, most coming in the
second half.
“I think it was just too much
nerves working into the game,”
Williams said about his team starting
off slowly, but eventually calming
down and playing a solid game.
Another determining factor in
the game was foul shooting.
Shepherd Hill only went to the line
13 times, hitting eight shots. South
hit 18 of 20 free throws.
Another suggestion from
Corriveau is with the regular season
schedule, as Shepherd Hill
plays many Division 2 teams in the
Southern Worcester County
League, while South plays against
D1 teams all year in the Inter-High
League.
The biggest dagger took place
with just under two minutes to go
when South point guard Hugh Daye
(10 points, all in the second half)
drove in for a layup, upping the
Colonels’ lead, 66-57.
John Jones and Craig Cameron
also had good games for South, each
netting 16 points. Justice Boateng
had a game-high nine rebounds.
South now faces top ranked
Fitchburg Thursday night.
Mike Flynn, one of three
Shepherd Hill seniors, scored a
team-high 17 points, including
three 3-pointers. Westgate, another
senior, finished with 13 points and
six rebounds. Reserve senior Matt
Murphy also contributed with a
fourth-quarter jumper.
Junior guard Matt Wells scored
seven of his nine points in the first
half.
“I thought we did pretty well,”
Corriveau said of his team that was
without leading scorer Ryan
Begreen.
Shepherd Hill finished its season
with a 12-10 record.
Brian Westgate surveys the floor while being guarded by South's Craig Cameron (33).
Shepherd Hill girls earn top seed in districts
BY NICK ETHIER
SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The 2009 MIAA Central
Massachusetts basketball
brackets have been
announced, which means
that postseason play is upon
us.
Let’s take a look at the
brackets, as many local
teams have qualified for district
competition.
Division 1 Boys
Shepherd Hill is the only
squad to emerge in this ultra
competitive bracket, as they
made it in with the No. 9 seed
in the 11-team field. The
Rams (12-9) squared off with
No. 8 South High (12-8)
Monday night and were bested,
70-59.
Fitchburg earned the top
seed with their 19-3 mark.
Division 1 Girls
The Rams picked up the
No. 1 seed in this bracket,
compiling a 17-3 record.
Shepherd Hill awaits the
winner of Holy
Name/Algonquin in quarterfinal
play Friday. The Rams
host the game at 7 p.m.
Tantasqua (15-5) is also in
this bracket, bringing in the
No. 4 seed. The Warriors, like
Shepherd Hill, picked up a
first round bye. Tantasqua
hosts the Gardner/St. Peter
Marian winner Friday at a
time to be determined.
Division 2 Boys
The hometown Pioneers,
fresh off their impressive
Clark Tournament finals
appearance, are the top seed
in this 15-team field.
Southbridge (18-3) will host a
game at 7 p.m. Friday, facing
the
St.
Bernard’s/Blackstone-
Millville victor.
“This is not going to be a
cakewalk,” Southbridge
coach Bob Fowler said of
their first postseason game.
“We’re probably playing two
of the best teams. That’s no
present. It’s going to be a
tough road.”
No. 8 St. Bernard’s is 13-7,
but 12-1 in their last 13
games. No. 9 Blackstone
Millville (13-8) is also a very
tough team, according to
Fowler.
Northbridge (17-3) is close
behind as the No. 2 seed. The
Rams played host to No. 15
Nashoba Regional (6-13) on
Tuesday.
Defending Division 2
champion Tantasqua will
check in with the No. 4 seed.
The Warriors (16-4) hosted
No. 13 Clinton (11-9) on
Tuesday — the same day
David Prouty (12-8), which
received the No. 11 seed, traveled
to No. 6 Lunenburg (14-
6).
Division 2 Girls
Two Blackstone Valley
area teams received bids for
this particular tournament.
No. 5 Northbridge (14-6) and
No. 7 Uxbridge (12-8) both
traveled for their games, as
the Rams played No. 4 St.
Bernard’s (16-4) and the
Spartans played No. 2 Groton
Dunstable (18-2), both on
Thursday.
Millbury and their 19-1
mark are the top seed in the
bracket.
Division 3 Boys
No. 7 Whitinsville
Christian (13-6) beat No. 10
Murdock (10-9) in this 17-
team field to advance to the
quarterfinals. The Crusaders
will meet either second-seeded
University Park and 15th
seed Assabet Valley, who tangled
on Tuesday, at 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 at either
University Park (if that
school wins) or Whitinsville
Christian (if Assabet Valley
pulled off the upset).
North Brookfield is next,
checking in as the 14th seed.
The 9-9 Indians had to visit
No. 3 Nashoba Tech (17-3) for
a game on Tuesday.
Bartlett and Quaboag are
the final two teams in the
bracket. Even though the No.
16 Indians (5-14) and No. 17
Cougars (4-15) finished with
losing records, they had winning
marks against Division
3 competition, which got
both teams a bid. The two
teams squared off in Webster
Monday night, with the
Cougars earning the 72-50
win and a date with top-seeded
Sutton Wednesday night.
Division 3 Girls
As the only undefeated
team remaining in Central
Massachusetts, Quaboag (20-
0) picked up the No. 1 seed.
The Cougars have a bye in
the opening round and hosted
No. 16 Bartlett Thursday.
Bay Path (16-4) earned the
No. 6 seed, and hosted a game
with No. 11 University Park
(13-6) Wednesday.
Whitinsville Christian, at
16-6, checked in as the No. 9
seed. The Crusaders traveled
to Upton to take on No. 8
Blackstone Valley Tech (15-5)
Wednesday.
Douglas, Oxford wrap up season in Showcase
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BY NICK ETHIER
SPORTS STAFF WRITER
OXFORD — Even though both the Douglas
and Oxford girls’ basketball teams are not
advancing to postseason play, the Lady Tigers
and Lady Pirates put on a dramatic, hard
fought game to end their respective seasons.
Douglas overcame a 14-point fourth quarter
deficit to force overtime, and ultimately
upended Oxford, 52-45, in the Blackstone
Valley Showcase Tuesday, Feb. 17.
“To end the season like that is a tremendous
boost to the kids’ confidence,” Douglas
coach Jay Yacino said of his team, which
starts a freshman, three sophomores and a
junior.
Lizz Ferguson, the Tigers’ junior center,
was the driving force in the comeback victory.
She finished with 19 points and 21
rebounds, both game highs, but scored 15 of
her points and collected 16 of her boards in
the second half.
“She’s a hustler, a scrapper,” Yacino said.
Nick Ethier photo
Douglas' Emma Piwowarski tries to rush the court,
but Oxford's Ashely O'Keefe is able to swat the ball
“She sets the tone for the other kids. Tonight
was the perfect example of her stepping up
when needed and bringing the rest of the
kids along with her until they turned it on.”
But it took a while for things to turn on for
Douglas, as Oxford led 11-3 after one quarter
and 26-14 at halftime.
Jessica Jorge (17 points and seven
rebounds) triggered the early lead for the
Pirates by sinking three 3-pointers in the first
half.
Caitlyn Corey (10 points and six rebounds)
and Stephanie Mahota (nine points) were
other main contributors for Oxford.
Douglas began its comeback midway
through the fourth quarter when Ferguson
picked up an offensive rebound and put a
shot up for two points, cutting into Oxford’s
lead, 37-26.
The Tigers then installed an impressive
full court press, which stymied the Pirates.
Kyla Hatch (11 points, five rebounds and four
steals) was able to come up with a steal and
coinciding bucket, closing the gap even more.
Then, with 1:30 remaining, Ferguson came
up with a steal and found Hatch for a basket.
At that point Oxford was only up seven, 37-30.
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Ferguson then scored the next three points
on a free throw and layup, cutting it to 37-33.
The Pirates kept fighting though, and
Corey’s baseline jumper put Oxford up six.
But two Douglas free throws, making it 39-
35, followed by a Hatch runner, made it 39-37
with less than 30 seconds to play.
After Oxford hit one of two free throws to
go up three points, the dramatics set in.
With four seconds to go, Douglas eighthgrader
Julia Piwowarski found herself with
the ball as time began to wind down. Her 3-
point attempt from NBA range was nothing
but net, and the game headed to overtime.
“She’s a phenomenal athlete,” Yacino said.
“She’s a smart, smart kid. She already knows
the game. There’s nothing but upside to her
and her sister.”
Her sister is freshman Emma Piwowarski
(four points and four rebounds), a starting
guard for the Tigers.
Douglas was able to win overtime scoring,
11-5, thanks in part to Ferguson (six overtime
points) and Julia Piwowarski (nine points),
who hit a shot to put the Tigers up for good,
49-45.
Even though Douglas finished at 6-14,
Yacino can’t wait to see what his team is
capable of next year, as the entire starting
lineup returns.
“I have never looked more forward to
upcoming seasons than I do now,” he said.
Oxford coach Melissa Paulhus was nothing
but pleased with her team all year.
“It was a tough season, but I talked to the
girls at the end of the game and we talked
about all the positive things that happened
throughout the year,” she said of her team,
which finished 0-20. “They never hung their
heads down. They always gave 110 percent on
the court. I would rather coach these girls
than a team that made states.”