LOWELL, Mass. — When Bishop Fenwick girls basketball coach Adam DeBaggis prepared for the MIAA Division 3 championship, he wrote the names of the 2024 team — the year that the MIAA banned all of Fenwick athletics from the state postseason — down on his clipboard and texted those players to say he was thinking of them.
That group, on paper, would have likely won a state title. Two years later, the Crusaders have their trophy.
Top-seeded Bishop Fenwick fended off multiple surges from second-seeded Pittsfield, prevailing 49-44 on Sunday afternoon at Tsongas Center. It's the second championship in program history and first since 2016.
"That time, we were upset we couldn't prove that we were one of the best teams in the state, even though we did in a lot of ways," Bishop Fenwick coach Adam DeBaggis said. "But this is what it's all about: being able to put the final nail in the coffin (and) the final stamp on what you are."
Seniors Celia Neilson and Caitlin Boyle were freshmen starters when the Crusaders lost to St. Mary's in the 2023 title game, and they helped lead the program through a season-without-a-postseason and last year's early playoff exit in Division 2. Back on the big stage, Neilson (19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists) and Boyle (14 points, 12 rebounds) led the way.
"It feels great. It's kind of like all our efforts paid off. It's a great moment for us," Neilson said.
Bishop Fenwick (20-5) looked to get Boyle going early, feeding her post-up touches as she sparked a 13-5 first quarter edge with eight quick points. But Pittsfield (20-6) challenged the 6-foot-2 Stonehill commit throughout the game, and senior forward Harolyn Castillo dug in and matched physicality on defense.
Pittsfield made its first run in the second quarter, coming back and tying the contest at 23 before halftime on a late layup from Asia Smith-Moody (eight points). Neilson picked up her third foul in the waning minutes of the second quarter and had to sit. But instead of returning out of control, the 6-foot guard started the second half poised. She scored on a smooth spin move that drew "oohs" from the crowd and put back a key layup as part of a 13-0 Fenwick push that brought the lead to 41-29 after the third quarter.
"I just definitely (remembered): settle the nerves a little bit, be less reach-y, and just play our game. Stay straight up," Neilson said.
The Generals battled back again, powered by the lightning-quick defensive hands of standout sophomore guard Caprese Conyers (15 points). She picked the pockets of multiple Crusaders and took the ball back for easy transition scores. Neilson matched Conyers with power buckets, offensive rebounds and her second drawn charge of the game, all before picking up her fourth foul in the last two minutes. DeBaggis estimated Neilson drew roughly 22-25 charges on the season.
"Growth is the best word, because really, her only fault ever is that she's too aggressive (and) gets a little crazy," DeBaggis said. "It was her only improvement area, and that second half of this season in particular, she's turned into more than than just a girl that has athleticism and stuff like that. She's the complete package.
"Some might call her the best player in the state," he added with a smirk.
Still, Pittsfield didn't relent, as a Conyers snagged an offensive rebound and flashed around the paint for a layup that made it a 47-44 ballgame. But Fenwick put enough late defensive stops together to hold onto the win.
"It really just comes down to the girls being tough and composed," DeBaggis said. "We talked about this all the time. It's the craziest thing: winning against good teams comes down to passing and catching, and that's completing passes, and that's what we did to finish off the game."
