GIRLS BASKETBALL
Mansfield 51, Danvers 48: The most successful season in Falcons’ girls basketball annals came to an end after a close loss to the host Hornets in the first round of the Division 3 state tournament Friday night. The contest was ultimately decided at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, with Danvers being called for 15 fouls and Mansfield just two.
Senior captain Angie Djoko ended her career with 25 points, a dozen rebounds and two assists for the Falcons (19-2). Annabel Boyd added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Northeastern Conference champions, with Kyla Moroney (5 rebounds) and Kendall Murphy both adding four points and captain Kayda Brown finishing with three.
Bishop Feehan 71, Peabody 30: After winning their preliminary round contest at home earlier in the week, the Tanners were tasked with taking on the state’s top ranked team on the road in a Division 1 first round bout and couldn’t keep pace, finishing a fine season with a 15-7 mark.
Greater Lawrence 65, Hamilton-Wenham 45: The visiting Reggies cashed in on 13 three-pointers, upsetting the 11th seeded Generals (11-10) in a Division 4 first round matchup. Hamilton-Wenham trailed by eight at the break, then watched Greater Lawrence start the second half on a 10-0 run. Captains Grace Harres, a junior, and senior Gabrielle Jewett led the hosts with 10 points each, while seniors Margot Bryce Morris and Lilly Giovannucci both had eight. Olivia Bevilacqua, a junior guard, came off the bench to provide excellent defense and four points of her own.
Pingree 43, Portsmouth Abbey 39: After winning the Eastern Independent League regular season crown, the Highlanders advanced to the league’s playoff final with a semifinal triumph Friday in South Hamilton. Shauna O’Brien, a junior guard and tri-captain, finished with 18 points and four rebounds while freshman Rayana Laurent added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Pingree (13-11), which will host Wheeler Saturday (3:30 p.m.) back on their home court for the EIL crown.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Ipswich 69, Winthrop 60: Playing their first playoff game in nine years, the Tigers captured their first postseason triumph since 2008 thanks to a career high 22 points from Trevor Manning in a Division 1 first round clash at Doug Woodworth Court.
Ipswich (14-6) and Winthrop were tied halftime (36-36) and again at 42-42 before Manning drained one of his four 3-pointers and hit the ensuing foul shot. He hit another big three in the latter stages of the fourth quarter as the hosts roared back from a deficit before Rex Satter (21 points) drained a clutch 3-ball of his own with 2:29 to go for a 60-58 lead. Satter then found Anderson Pillis (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Vin Winter for easy baskets as Ipswich pulled away.
Doherty 83, Marblehead 70: In a first round matchup of the Nos. 13 and 20 seeded teams in the Division 2 playoff draw, the visiting Magicians battled throughout before season come to an end with a 13-8 record.
Hamilton-Wenham 64, Frontier 62: The host Generals held off the visitors to emerge victorious in this Division 4 first round battle. Now 10-11 on the season, Hamilton-Wenham will travel to Nipmuc Monday at 6:30 p.m. to take on Millbury High in a second round battle.
BOYS HOCKEY
Pingree 6, Kents Hill 4: Sean Foster turned in a monster performance with 2 goals and 3 assists to propel the Highlanders (now 15-8-5) into the EIL title game Saturday. Freshman Drew Gallucci added a goal and two helpers while goalkeeper Max Levine-Stein stopped 26 shots for Pingree, which also got goals from Graham Luskin and Wyatt Langway. Additional assists went to captain Danny Patch (2) and Will Twombly.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Duxbury 5, Marblehead 0: The 30th seed in the Division 2 playoff draw, the Lady Headers were unable to cash in on any of their offensive chances against the third seeded Dragons in a season-ending setback at The Bog in Kingston. Marblehead finished the year 5-14-2.
Portsmouth Abbey 5, Pingree 1: The Highlanders’ season came to an end at 5-19-1 after falling in the Eastern Independent League playoffs.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Endicott 78, Nichols 75: Trailing by two points at halftime and down three (73-70) in the late stages, the nationally ranked Gulls (13th in the country for Division 3) fought their way back behind 30 points from Gloucester native Marcus Montagnino and a spectacular 22-point, 17-rebound, 6-steal and 3-blocked shots outing from Elijah Kinney to prevail in a Conference of New England (CNE) semifinal in Beverly.
Caden Sullivan also finished in double figures for top seeded Endicott (now ) with 14 points, three rebounds and three steals while playing 37-of-40 minutes. Endicott’s starting five, including Matt Boen and Jeff Hill, produced all but two of the team’s points. The locals will now host Western New England for the CNE crown Sunday at 1 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Western New England 66, Endicott 61: Despite 13 points and eight rebounds from Tricia Wladkowski, the second seeded Gulls (17-9) were knocked off in the CNE semifinals on their home court by the No. 3 seed. Tenley Wallin added 12 points and five rebounds, Aleah Bracey finished with 11 points, and Emma Shinney also scored in double figures with 10 points to go with seven assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Framingham State 60, Salem State 58: Fighting back valiantly from a 15-point halftime deficit, the Vikings made it close but were barely shaded in this MASCAC semifinal contest in Framingham. Ernidia Goncalves did all she could, scoring 21 points with 14 rebounds and a pair of steals for Salem State (13-14) while Yamilette Guerrero also had a starring role for the locals with 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Shekera Fullenwilder added nine points off the bench in just 16 minutes of playing time.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY
Rivier 4, Salem State 1: Emily Schneider’s unassisted second period goal was the only one that Salem State (10-14-2) could muster in a MASCAC semifinal setback. Delaney Cox (18 saves in two periods) and backup Amy Thul (10-for-10 in saves in the third period) tended the pipes for the Vikings.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
St. Joseph 7, Gordon 2: The Scots dropped their season opener on the road in Connecticut despite RBI from Carter Shin and Adam Gracie. Gabe Fales and Cael Smith each had two hits in Gordon’s seven-hit attack, with CJ Massella and Shin both swiping a base.