Girls Basketball: Big Blue use strong second half to best Winthrop

For the reigning Division 3 state champions, Friday’s 48-25 win over Winthrop was a chance for Swampscott to get back to doing what got them the brass ring a year ago.The Big Blue played their typically stiff defense, outscoring the Vikings 15-3 in the final eight minutes to put the game away.”Winthrop hung in pretty well,” Big Blue coach Jack Hughes said. “But we were able to break it open in the third and fourth quarters.”Swampscott (1-1) led 11-6 after one quarter and 21-12 at the half. The Vikings (0-2) stayed in the game and trailed by only 12 heading to the fourth before Swampscott turned on the jets.Kara Gilberg led Swampscott with 11 ponts and seven assists. Caroline Murphy chipped in with 10 while Tara Gallagher had nine points and 14 reboounds.St. Mary’s 55, Austin Prep 43At Reading, Tori Faieta and Cassi Amenta were a force in the paint for the 2-0 Spartans as they combined for 42 points, 30 rebounds and 20 blocked shots against the Cougars.Faieta had a triple double, going for 20 points, 13 rebounds and 16 blocks. Amenta wasn’t far behind, finishing with 22 points and 17 boards while blocking four shots.St. Mary’s trailed 11-9 after one quarter, but took a 21-18 halftime lead before steadily pulling away.”We’ve got some work to do but we’ve got a couple of good road wins in a tough league so far,” St. Mary’s coach Jeff Newhall said.English 64, Revere 54At Cavanagh Field House in Lynn, the Bulldogs (2-0, 2-0 NEC North) were in a battle for a half, leading by only two at the break. But Jenicia Duggins scored 12 of her game high 27 points in the third quarter to help English run away.”That third quarter was huge. We came out really hot and Jenicia just lit it up,” English coach Fred Hogan said.English is at Peabody on Monday (7) in a battle of two of the top clubs in the NEC North.Peabody 55, Salem 27At Veterans Memorial Field House in Salem, a stingy defense and a hot offense combined to lead the Tanners (2-0) to an easy road win.”I was pleased with the effort (Friday),” Peabody coach Jane Heil said. “We got off to a great start.”Peabody led 26-10 after one quarter and 40-13 at the break. Janelle Rodriguez had 15 points, 10 steals, eight rebounds and eight assists to pace the Tanners.Ginny Fleming had 12 points and Hayley Dowd added 10 for Peabody.Gloucester 72, Saugus 26At Saugus, Hannah Kane and Audrey Knowlton each had 16 points as four Fishermen (2-0) scored in double figures in the win. Olivia Lufkin had 11 points and Heather Kane added 10 for Gloucester.Jackie Strangie had 14 to lead Saugus. The Fishermen led 16-6 after one quarter and 36-15 at the half.Danvers 55, Marblehead 37At Marblehead, Kelly Macdonald had 19 points and nine boards as the Falcons (2-0) got a fight from Marblehead (0-2) before pulling away in the fourth quarter.Janelle Saggese came off the bench to contribute seven points for the Falcons in their big final quarter.”We just couldn’t put that team away,” Danvers coach Pat Veilleux said. “Marblehead really played well and challenged us.”Williams 62, Fenwick 61At Braintree, Fenwick (0-2) had the lead most of the way but the hosts staged a fourth quarter rally to steal away the victory.Amy Pelletier had 21 points to pace the Crusaders. Sidney Southern added 19, going 13-of-17 from the foul line.No. Reading 44, Lynnfield 32At North Reading, Jamie Harris had 10 points to lead the Pioneers.