PEABODY, Mass. — Bishop Fenwick has long been recognized as one of the perennial stingy defenses in MIAA girls basketball. But to win against a top Catholic Central League opponent like St. Mary's, the Crusader would have to progress as offense.
The moment came in the fourth quarter. No. 8 St. Mary's had cut the gap to 36-35, and then No. 6 Fenwick broke through with an 11-0 run that season an eventual 55-46 home victory. It included smart cutting, transition passing and some big-time shots from star seniors Celia Neilson and Caitlin Boyle.
"We talked all week about composure – like, toughness and composure on offense," Fenwick coach Adam DeBaggis said. "I told the girls jokingly, we could defend the Boston Celtics. I'm sure that we can defend anyone in the state, but sometimes we don't score. And so the toughness and composer on offense — like a couple of backdoors we hit — just so imposed and (we) hit them and scored."
The Crusaders improved to 6-0 with their statement win of the year and handed St. Mary's (7-1) its first defeat. Here are five standouts from the matchup.
