Published in the January 25, 2017 edition
FLOATING on air, junior captain Liz Shaievitz takes a jumper inside the paint against the Generals. She was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points in the 54-35 loss. She also had a team-high 17 points against Ipswich. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAVID McCOUBREY
LYNNFIELD — It was a tale of two halves last Monday afternoon, as the Lynnfield girls’ basketball squad dropped a close one to the Ipswich Tigers, 55-50, at Lynnfield High School.
In the first half, the length and size of the Pioneers troubled Ipswich, with excellent defense in the paint from junior center Emory Caswell. She came off the bench and was able to slow down Ipswich’s Anna Davis, who finished with 15 points but had to work for every bucket.
The Pioneers have three captains, and after two quarters, they were a huge reason why the girls had a 26-24 advantage. It’s becoming clear that the one senior on the team, Shannon Furey, is a bit of a defensive savant. Her knack for compiling blocks is uncanny. She’s a skyscraper in the lane, taller and stronger than most opponents, and she has active hands that not only swat the ball but can tip rebounds to teammates for fast break opportunities.
JUNIOR forward Mackenzie O’Neill drives to the hoop against Ipswich while being closely guarded by a Tiger. The Pioneers came close to a win at 55-50. (Courtesy Photo)
The break is usually led by junior captain Juliana Passatempo, a point guard. Early on, she and senior guard for the Tigers Kelsey Daly were playing a game of “can-you-top-this” athleticism. The two diminutive speedsters were flying up and down the court creating great looks for others.
In the second quarter, though, Passatempo, the ball in her hands on the wing, caught a nasty elbow above her left eye, drawing blood. She left the game after that. Her cut required stitches and it’s unclear if she’ll miss more action. What was clear was the impact of her exit from the game.
“We really missed her in the fourth,” said head coach James Perry. “She’s a good general on the floor; she places the ball well. As a small guard, she penetrates, she causes the defense to draw in on her, and she gets fouled.”
Without Passatempo in the lineup, the Pioneers looked to another captain, junior guard Liz Shaievitz, who took over the point guard duties. She led the Pioneers with 17 of their 50 points and was thrust into the role of playmaker in the second half.
“She’s a great athlete,” Perry said of Shaievitz. “She’s a great player first of all. She’s fast, with a long wingspan; she can manage the ball. We love her.”
The Pioneers missed Passatempo in the second half, as turnovers and missed layups started to pile up, and the Tigers were able to pull away. But the Pioneers shot 63 percent from the free throw line and continued their usual physical style of play, with tough defense and a knack for grabbing boards.
“This is a game we should have won,” Perry said. And without a win this year, that’s an outlook to build upon.
The girls traveled to Manchester-Essex, playing hard against the Hornets last Friday night in a 52-38 loss. They hosted Georgetown (after press time) Tuesday night. They’ll host the Triton Vikings Friday, Jan. 27. Tip off is 6:30 p.m. at the LHS gymnasium.
