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 Crusaders would have to progress as a scoring unit.
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 secured 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, who combined for 40 of the team's 55 points.
"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 composure on offense — like a couple of backdoors we hit (were) just so composed, 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.
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Neilson was excellent all night, compiling 22 points, seven assists and four steals. Her highlight sequence came during that 11-0 run, when Neilson threaded a bounce pass to a backdoor-cutting Taisha Castillo, then draw a charge at the basket that left Neilson shaken up and fired up.
"Celia needs a couple days off, I think," DeBaggis said with a laugh. "She's a boss, really. I think her only negatives are that she sometimes gets in crazy mode — you see her with her head down (and) she could get called for a couple charges here and there, sometimes in certain games. But other than that, nobody has a bigger heart than that kid. She's unbelievable."
Neilson played under control in this game. She was bigger and stronger than any St. Mary's guard and bullied her way to the basket with spin moves and power drives. But she also cut for layups, hit a 3-pointer and made a bunch of great passes in transition and to cutters. Fenwick decided not to play Neilson on the ball defensively and instead had her guarding off-ball shooters. It was the right call; she racked up a handful of deflections and steals just watching ball reversals, and she pounced on more passes that she took coast-to-coast.
"I like to read the ball a lot too, but our coach really emphasizes not letting the ball (move) and beating their eyes, especially on the corners," Neilson said.
Caitlin Boyle, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2026, 6-2 forward
Hometown: Georgetown, Mass.
NCAA: Stonehill
Boyle's 18 points, four rebounds and four blocks line up with the steady impact she brought to Fenwick's victory. St. Mary's struggled to find open shots in the paint because Boyle was disciplined and imposing with her contests around the basket. She only picked up one foul in contrast to her four swats. Boyle was also at the center of the Crusaders' closing surge, hitting a quick catch-and-shoot 3 that was her lone attempt of the night. She also scored on cuts where the Spartans lost her and made layups out of pick-and-roll situations. Earlier in the came she finished off a layup via a seal and great assist from Kyleigh Pidgeon.
Reese Spurchise, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2027, 5-6 guard
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Instead of having Neilson defend top Spartans guard SySy Mcausland Emmanuel, Spurchise got the assignment and delivered. Her ball pressure was fantastic, both individually to force steals and in Fenwick's press and sideline traps. Spurchise didn't score, but she epitomized another key reason Fenwick won this game, along with Abby Jenkins and Brittney Figulski.
"Brittney, Reese and Abby were so great, especially on-ball," Neilson said. "Getting their top guards and getting steals on the ball — that really helped us get a win."
Charleigh Green, St. Mary's
Class of 2028, 6-0 forward
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Green did a phenomenal job defending Boyle and kept a great post player from being able to work 1-on-1 out of the post. She also competed on the boards and came away with multiple hard-fought offensive rebounds. Then offensively, Green showed a lot of confidence in her shot. Her seven points included a spot-up 3 and two face-up elbow jumpers. Green holds a Division 1 offer from Stonehill because she has special mobility on defense and shooting touch.
McKenna O'Connell, St. Mary's
Class of 2029, guard
Hometown: Marblehead, Mass.
O'Connell made a splash off the bench with a team-high 10 points, showing more of why she's been one of the Spartans' breakout young guards this season. She's quick with the ball and can create space with her crossover. O'Connell hit two 3-pointers and also attacked a closeout for a shorter baseline jumper. She also really competes on the defensive end; O'Connell picked up a steal on the ball, pressured guards a lot and had some smart rotations to help in the paint. Gabi Lorenzini is injured right now. which means other guards need to step up next to Emmanuel. O'Connell looks like a great find.
