Tech’s Mitchell nets 1000th

Most high school basketball teams are fortunate to have one 1,000-career-point-scorer pass through the doors every once in a blue moon, but at Lynn Tech it’s becoming a weekly occurrence.Senior Shena Mitchell needed seven points to hit the magic number heading into Monday’s game against Presentation of Mary Academy, and she got it before halftime on a drive to the hoop. In doing so, she became the second Tech girls basketball player in as many games to hit the mark. Last Friday, senior Jessica Underwood scored her 1,000th in a win over Greater Lowell. The Tigers didn’t fare as well against PMA, losing 43-39.Michell, like Underwood, has been with the Tech program for five years. She started at the school as an eighth-grader (the eighth-grade program no longer exists) and began making her presence felt on the court immediately.She scored 150 points that first year, and, as a freshman and sophomore, was named league Most Valuable Player. She was the Tigers’ offensive leader as a junior in addition to doing a nice job distributing the ball. Mitchell is a four-year captain and a three-year Commonwealth Conference All-Star.”She’s had a very nice career,” Tech coach John Crowley said, adding that she has been a team leader since she first stepped on the court.”She’s done a nice job for us for five years,” Crowley said. “She certainly deserves a lot of credit.”Mitchell finished the game with 11 points, as did Underwood, but it wasn’t enough to fend off PMA. Tech led 25-21 at the half, but the Tigers hit a cold streak that lasted the final two quarters, where they only scored 12 points.The loss was a costly one. Tech had a shot at a share of the Commonwealth Conference Large title with a win over Minuteman today, but the loss to PMA means the best the Tigers can finish is second place.Tech is 10-5, 10-3 in the CAC. The Tigers still have a shot at qualifying for the state Vocational Tournament, but Crowley said his team will likely have to come away with a win today to make it a reality. Today is the Tigers’ final regular-season game (they only play 16).