Unfortunately for the No. 27 Newburyport girls basketball team, Tuesday’s Division 3 Round of 16 win over No. 11 Watertown, 56-48, wasn’t the largest upset — by seed — in MIAA tournament history.
That feat is something the Clippers already accomplished this playoff run.
And my goodness, what an incredible, historic playoff run this is turning into.
It was just late last week when Newburyport DID, in fact, secure the largest girls basketball upset since the MIAA moved to the statewide format three years ago, stunning No. 6 Norton, 52-39. But the Clippers weren’t satisfied with just the one shocking upset this winter. They trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half to a talented Watertown squad Tuesday night, but rallied on the road once again to keep on dancing their way into the Division 3 Quarterfinals.
Truly, just bonkers stuff.
A No. 27 seed in the ‘Elite 8.’
“I honestly felt like they were going to play like this all year, and they haven’t,” said Newburyport coach Karen Grutchfield. “But they’re finally realizing that we can be good. They have a lot of confidence in their defense, and each game they’re getting more confident and tougher. I’m just so proud of their toughness. It’s been so much fun and incredible to watch.”
Newburyport (13-10) scored 50 or more points in just 6 of 20 regular season games.
But its now hit that mark in two straight playoff upsets.
Trailing by 11 midway through the third, it appeared the clock was about to strike midnight on this Cinderella journey. But the duo of Laney Schwab and Ava Bailey went to work offensively, and brought it back to just a 39-37 game heading into the fourth. Schwab, a junior, scored all 11 of her points in the second half and added 6 rebounds, while the freshman Bailey similarly poured in all 14 of her points during the final two quarters while grabbing 5 rebounds with 5 assists.
Then defensively, the Clippers switched it up.
“We were down 11 and trying to do the zone that beat Norton,” said Grutchfield. “It obviously wasn’t working, so we went man-to-man and we just stayed really tough. You know, we’ve had these two long bus rides now where they’ve really just stayed focused, and last night the (Watertown) fans were yelling all the stuff you hear at high school basketball games. But our girls have just been so tough through it all.
“It’s been delightful to watch them.”
Fellow junior Olivia Foley (15 points) had a clutch and-1 to help make it a 53-48 game with 1:30 left, and the 6-foot-2 forward altered a countless number of Watertown shots on the other end. Senior point guard Olivia McDonald (8 pts) was excellent again in breaking the press and getting the team into their offensive sets, while Lizzie Metsker and Brela Pavao both provided strong minutes as the Clippers have rolled with a six-girl rotation these past two playoff games.
“Olivia McDonald is such a floor leader for us,” said Grutchfield. “And then Olivia Foley, at crucial moments she’ll get a big bucket, and then she makes kids alter their shots so much on the defensive end.”
Since the MIAA moved to the statewide tournaments in the 2021-22 season, Newburyport, at No. 27, is the highest-seeded girls basketball team to ever make a quarterfinal. Before them on the girl’s side was Newton North in 2021-22 (No. 24 in D1), and just last year on the boy’s side, No. 29 Westwood made it in D2.
Both lost their quarterfinal games.
The Clippers will look to continue to make history on Friday night, when they travel down to play No. 3 Medway in the Division 3 Quarterfinals at 6 p.m. It’s already been an historic run, and at this point now, members of both the team and the Newburyport community are asking the same question.
Hey, why not us?
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” said Grutchfield. “They’ve just been so loose these past couple of games and playing great. They’re playing their best basketball at the perfect time. Medway is going to be tough, especially at their place.
“But, I mean at this point, why not, right?”
Newburyport 56, Watertown 48
Division 3 Round of 16
Newburyport (56): Olivia McDonald 1-6-8, Lizzie Metsker 1-0-2, Brela Pavao 2-2-6, Laney Schwab 5-1-11, Ava Bailey 6-2-14, Olivia Foley 6-3-15. Totals 21-14-56
3-pointers: N — None
Newburyport (13-10): 10 7 20 19 — 56
Watertown (16-6): 8 14 17 9 — 48