St. Francis Girls Hoops Crowns Season Champs
Junior League (grades 3-5)
Buckeyes 12, Celtics 11 – It was an amazing end to a dramatic championship game as the Buckeyes edged the Celtics, 12-11.
Rhiannon Arnold supplied the Buckeyes with a 2-0 lead just 1:05 into the contest but a pair of baskets by Coleen Hardy, including one with just 13 seconds remaining in the opening half, gave the Celtics a 7-4 advantage at intermission. Twice in the earlier stages of the second half, Adrienne Arnold scored key baskets to pull the Buckeyes to within a point. With just under three minutes to go in the game, Shannon Smith netted her second consecutive field goal for the Celtics to provide them with an 11-8 lead. With 1:37 remaining, the Buckeyes again closed the deficit to a point thanks to a basket by Daniela Bencid.
The hectic finish began when the Buckeyes put up a couple of shots and then Rhiannon Arnold swished a jumper from the side. With 2.6 seconds to go, the Celtics inbounded the ball at half court to Colleen Hardy who was fouled while making a move to the basket. Both of Hardy’s attempts bounced off the rim, setting off an emotional celebration by the Buckeyes, who experienced a roller coaster season by winning their first six games and losing their next five only to rebound and finish the year on a three game winning streak.
Senior League (grades 6-8)
Nets 27-18 – The Nets jumped out to a quick start, built a 13-6 halftime lead and held on to take home the Senior League Championship, 27-18.
Tying her best offensive output of the season, Janelle Sullivan sank a pair of field goals in the opening minutes while Rebecca Pierce nailed a key three-point shot and banked a difficult fade away off the backboard to provide the Nets with some separation. Pierce netted seven of her nine points in the opening half with Nicole Regan recording three baskets in the second half for the Nets, who had six different scorers in the contest.
The Tar Heels tried to claw their way back into the game in the second half but they could not convert on several possessions and trailed by six. Deanna Hardy and Raniece Turner each finished with six points for the Tar Heels while the leading scorer in the league, Siobhan Turner, hit a pair of free throws. The Tar Heels, who finished the regular season in first place, put forth a solid effort on the defensive end but shot just 27% (4-for-15) from the free throw line en route to their lowest point total of the season.
The Junior and Senior League held their All-Star games on Sunday at St. Clement High School and their annual banquet will be held at the Irish American Club in Malden on April 15th.
– Submitted by Brian Devine