Sink Burlington in fourth quarter in 50-41 victory
SENIOR GUARD Grace Hurley (#15) scored a game high 24 points including five three-pointers against Burlington in Wakefield’s 50-41 triumph. The Warriors are now one win away from clinching a state tournament berth. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
Published in the February 11, 2016 edition.
BURLINGTON — The girls’ basketball team is one win away from clinching a state tournament berth, although it took quite a yeoman’s effort to earn its ninth victory of the season.
Wakefield outscored Burlington 18-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away for good in a 50-41 triumph on Tuesday night at Burlington High School.
The Warriors are now 9-8 overall and 9-6 in the Middlesex League Freedom division. Wakefield needs one more win in its final three games to return to the postseason.
Wakefield plays Watertown tomorrow night in the M.L. finale before it competes in two non-league games on Monday and Tuesday in the Patton Tournament at Hamilton-Wenham High School.
As for Tuesday night, the Warriors trailed 18-15 after the first quarter and 22-21 at halftime. The two teams were tied at 32-32 after three quarters.
“It was a close game. It went back and forth,” said Coach Meghan O’Connell. “Burlington had a 7-4 lead and they were up 18-15 after the first quarter. They were up one point at halftime and we were tied after three. We pulled away in the fourth quarter. We hit four three point shots which gave us some good separation. We went up by 10 and it was about clock management after that. Burlington was forced to foul.”
The game high scorer was senior guard Grace Hurley. Hurley recorded 24 points including five three-point field goals. Three out of the five treys came in the fourth quarter when Wakefield made its run.
Senior Mia Joyce (eight points) hit the other three-point shot which helped open things up for the Warriors.
“I thought our seniors led the way,” said O’Connell. “Burlington is very athletic and they’re aggressive. Our seniors helped calm things down and they hit some big shots. Gabby Joly hit a big three-point shot in the first which helped cut into the Burlington lead. Mia Joyce had all eight of her points in the second half and had key baskets. Grace Hurley was great throughout the whole game.”
Hannah Dziadyk, a sophomore, also recorded eight points for the Warriors. Joly had five points, sophomore Allee Purcell scored three points, and sophomore Ally Coggswell had two points.
“They weren’t going to be denied,” said O’Connell. “They have competed night in and night out.
Senior guard Emily Han was the leading scorer for the Red Devils with 10 points and was the only Burlington player to score in double digits.
Junior guard Ally Rasberg netted eight points and junior forward Emily Moreira recorded six points.
Next up for the Warriors is a meeting against M.L. Freedom division champion Watertown tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. at Kelley Gymnasium.
“Watertown is a great team. We played them tough in the second half of the first game we played them,” said O’Connell. “They’re a better team now I’m sure and we’re better, too. We hope to play a nice, competitive game against them.”
Should that contest not go in Wakefield’s favor, then the Warriors will have two more games to get that victory that clinches a state tournament berth when they compete in the Patton Tournament next week.
Of course, Wakefield wants to win all three of those contests and get as high a seeding as it can get for the postseason. The Warriors would also like to earn a home tournament game.
However getting into the tournament is the most important objective right now for the Warriors.
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WAKEFIELD 50, Burlington 41
At Burlington High School
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WAKEFIELD (50) — H.Butler 0 0 0; Joly 2 0 5; Hanley 0 0 0; Hurley 7 5 24; Joyce 3 0 8; Coggswell 1 0 2; Lovell 0 0 0; O.Dziadyk 0 0 0; E.Butler 0 0 0; Purcell 1 1 3; H.Dziadyk 2 4 8. Totals 16 10 50.
Burlington (41) — McDonald 0 0 0; Lupo 1 0 3; Rosberg 3 2 8; Flaherty 1 0 2; Moreira 3 0 6; Han 4 0 10; Dalla Santa 1 1 3; Scola 2 1 5; Wilson 0 0 0; Woods 0 0 0; McGuire 2 0 4. Totals 17 4 41.
Score by Quarters — WAKEFIELD 15-6-11-18 — 50. Burlington 18-4-10-9 — 41.
Three-points FGs — Wak, Hurley 5, Joyce 2, Joly 1. Bur, Han 2, Lupo 1.
