For the past two years (and, really, you could argue the last three), opposing CAL coaches have started putting together a gameplan for Pentucket asking a not-so-simple question.
What’s our answer for No. 32?
Well, that “No. 32” has played her last high school game, and everyone is still wondering if that question has an answer.
Because for the second year in a row, the athlete behind that number, Amelia Crowe, is being named our Daily News Girls Basketball MVP. The senior guard dominated the local courts once again, and was also named the CAL Kinney MVP for the second straight season. She now leaves West Newbury as a three-time Daily News News All-Star (2x MVP), as well as a three-time All-CAL First Team selection after first earning the honor three years ago as a sophomore.
When it comes to an all-around player, Crowe stood alone in our area.
Of course, her ability to score the basketball jumps out at you first. Crowe was second in our area this winter averaging 14.9 ppg, while also connecting on an area-high 53 total 3s. Her limitless range made her a threat as soon as she crossed halfcourt, but defenders had to also respect her ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the hoop — or pull up for her trademarked midrange jumper. In fact, the bucket that made Crowe the seventh 1,000-point scorer in school history was a baseline turn-around jumper.
But what hasn’t been talked about enough over the past couple of years has been her leadership, toughness and defense. As a senior captain this winter, Crowe led Pentucket (18-6) to a CAL Kinney title and to the program’s fourth straight appearance in a state quarterfinal. In total, her senior class went a combined 78-20 across their four years.
You’ll look and see a season-high 27 points on an incredible eight 3s to lead Pentucket to a gritty first round playoff win over Seekonk. But she also grabbed 6 rebounds during that victory, routinely crashing the boards and boxing out to make sure the Panthers got key possessions. She also scored 20 points against Hanover in the next round and 12 against eventual-champion Bishop Fenwick in the quarterfinals, so her three-game playoff scoring average was at 19.7 ppg.
Out of the team’s 24 games, she scored in double figures in 21 of them.
Crowe turned it to another level against rival Newburyport, scoring 22 points during the first meeting and 26 on six 3s in the rematch — both wins. She also had 21 points on four 3s in a win over Georgetown, and 20 against both Natick and Lynnfield. There were a pair of 17-point nights in wins over Essex Tech and Amesbury, 16-point outings against Oliver Ames and North Reading, and 15-point performances against Norwood and Lynnfield again.
For her Pentucket career, Crowe finished with 1,176 points.
And that career will continue at Babson College, where Crowe committed to last summer. The three-sport athlete was also a Daily News Volleyball All-Star for us during the fall, and will now once again lead the girls flag football team this spring.