Published March 4, 2020

CATE MACDONALD had 10 points and six rebounds for the Pioneers against Bishop Fenwick on Friday night. (File Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

PEABODY — It was one-and-done for the Lynnfield High girls’ basketball team in the Division 3 North state tournament as they lost at Bishop Fenwick 59-44 on Friday night in Peabody in the quarterfinal round.

With the loss, the 5th-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 13-7.

Meanwhile, the 4th-seeded Crusaders improved to 15-6 overall as they took on top-seeded St. Mary’s of Lynn on Tuesday night in the semifinal round (results unknown as of press time).

Bishop Fenwick’s 3-point shooting was the key in this one as they knocked down nine of them with seven coming in the first half.

“They were able to execute their game plan and our zone defense didn’t rotate fast enough to cover their shooters,” said Pioneers’ head coach Peter Bocchino.

Veronica Tache led the Crusaders in scoring with 18 points including three 3-pointers. She scored seven-straight points in the first quarter to make the score 11-6 causing Bocchino to call time out with 3:47 left.

“She killed us in that first half,” acknowledged Bocchino about the junior guard who scored 13 first-half points.

With the Crusaders leading 25-17 with 3:52 left in the second quarter, they went on a key 10-2 run to go to halftime leading 35-19.

Both teams struggled on offense in the third quarter as the Crusaders scored 10 points while Lynnfield scored only eight.

Lynnfield had trouble solving the Crusader zone all evening as they committed nearly 20 turnovers and also shot three air balls. They were also only 15-for-26 from the foul line.

The Pioneers had their best offensive quarter in the fourth, scoring 17, but Fenwick kept them at bay by scoring 14.

Behind Tache, Morgin Kotchian was second on the Crusaders in scoring as the freshman guard had 13 points. Maria Orfanos was third in points with nine and she led the team in assist with three.

Brynn Bertucci led Bishop Fenwick in rebounds with eight.

Lynnfield was led in scoring by Victoria Morelli who had 13 points while Cate MacDonald added 10. MacDonald led the team in rebounds with six.