PEABODY — If a head coach was making a checklist for winning state tournament basketball games, holding the opposition without a single double-digit scoring quarter might go right at the top.
Top-seed Bishop Fenwick was locked in defensive right from the opening tip and remaining that way throughout in a 56-29 Division 2 second round win over Lynnfield on Tuesday night.
All five Crusaders on the floor at any given time swarmed the ball, forcing the visiting Pioneers into turnovers and rushed shots. Lynnfield, the No. 16 seed, didn’t make its third field goal of the game until there were under 4:00 left in the second quarter — and Fenwick used that early defensive pressure to build a quick 18-4 lead.
“With the speed of our league, and the teams on our schedule, we’re used to playing pretty fast. Some of the teams you see in the (state) tournament, it takes them a little bit to catch to that speed,” said Fenwick head coach Adam DeBaggis. “Lynnfield did tonight and Wilmington did in the first round. But that early barrage … that’s tough to come back from.”
Bishop Fenwick (17-5) advanced to the Elite 8 round for the third time in the five years of statewide tournament play. They’ll face Pentucket (18-5) for a spot in the Final Four, likely this Saturday at St. John’s Prep’s Connaughton Court.
Senior captain Celia Neilson was a force on Tuesday night, scoring 25 points to go with seven rebounds and five steals. She had eight points in the first quarter alone and nearly outscored the Pioneers (14-8) all by herself.
The best part of Fenwick’s win, besides the defense, was its superb ball movement. The Crusaders had 19 assists on 21 baskets, and Neilson (one of the best passers in Eastern Mass.) was on the receiving end of a number of those in cuts under the basket in the second quarter.
Reese Spurchise had a tremendous passing game with four dimes Kyleigh Pidgeon handed out three and Jane Koulopoulos and Abby Jenkins each had a pair.
“Our ultimate goal is to be best passing team in the state,” said DeBaggis. “I thought we ran our offense really well tonight. The ball moved around and the girls made good decisions. Girls like Reese and Abby, who played a lot last year, have gained a lot of confidence offensively.”
Freshman Taisha Castillo also handled the ball well for Fenwick, which led 31-12 at halftime. Lynnfield had a decent start to the third quarter, but after a few transition buckets the lead soon swelled to 20, then got as high as 29 in the fourth.
Boyle picked up six rebounds with five steals and Spurchise was excellent defensively with six deflections.
Bishop Fenwick 56, Lynnfield 29
Division 3 Round of 16 at Bishop Fenwick HS, Peabody Lynnfield;4;8;9;8;29
Bishop Fenwick;18;13;11;14;56
Individual scoring
Lynnfield: Doherty 1-0-3, Valiton 4-2-10, Grieves 4-0-8, Wertz 2-1-6, Braley 1-0-2. Totals: 12-3-29.
Bishop Fenwick: Neilson 10-4-25, Boyle 4-5-13, Figulski 0-0-0, Pidgeon 0-1-1, Jenkins 1-0-3, Spurchise 3-0-6, Grassia 1-0-2, Blatchford 1-0-3, Koulopoulos 0-0-0, Castillo 1-1-3. Totals 21-11-56.
Three-pointers: L, Doherty, Wertz; BF, Blatchford, Neilson, Jenkins
Records: L, 14-8; BF, 17-5.