LOWELL, Mass. — In the melee of Wachusett's postgame jubilation after winning a second consecutive Division 1 championship, it was easy to lose track of Teegan Lanpher, the smallest player on the court.
But after cheers, hugs and pictures, Lanpher sprinted out on her own and up to the first row of stands where her family and older sisters embraced the 5-foot-3 guard. Lanpher's impact far outshone her stature, as her 22 points lifted the third-seeded Mountaineers in a physical, 55-47 title bout against Springfield Central on Saturday at Tsongas Center.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling," Lanpher said. "No one expected us to win it last year. Now we just did it twice with the same group. So it's just amazing."
Lanpher's heroics included 15 second-half points and 11 of her team's 18 fourth-quarter points, where her decisive off-dribble attacks and high-arcing floaters decimated the defense. On one early play, she sped under and past two pressing defenders before pulling up for a long, contested 2-pointer. Her final bucket was another rainbow runner from the baseline practically behind the backboard.
