Scacchi nets 1,000th point as Tanners reach quarters

PEABODY – It was a win-win for the Peabody High girls basketball team Tuesday in the first round of the Division 1 North tournament.The Tanners ousted opening-round opponent Reading, 58-44, and senior Carolyn Scacchi scored her 1,000th point on a three from the top of the circle with 2:06 left in the first half. Making both accomplishments even sweeter was the fact they were done at home.Scacchi went into the game needing 10 points to reach the milestone. She started off with a bang, burying a three 1:28 into the game. She had five points by the end of the first quarter and added a quick bucket early in the second to close to within three. She added another one a few minutes later for nine points and then nailed the three to join the club.?I was concerned Carolyn would be on edge, but she was fine. She was very calm,” coach Jane Heil said.Scacchi, who will play volleyball at Southern New Hampshire University next fall, said scoring 1,000 points was a goal, but not something she really expected when she came in as a freshman four years ago.?The win came first, but I wanted the 1,000 so bad. It?s just awesome,” she said, adding that once the pressure was off she felt like she could fly.Peabody came out strong in the first quarter with Alex Lomasney hitting a three and contributing five of her nine points in the first eight minutes. Amanda Matthews (8 points) had a couple of hoops and Scacchi, who led all scorers with 20 points, had five. She would have 12 by the half.The Reading defense was tough and in the third quarter, both teams struggled to find the basket. There were a lot of turnovers on both ends and with 1:57 left, Reading had closed the gap to eight points. The Tanners pulled away down the stretch with sophomore Sara Hosman making a couple of great passes into the paint to Scacchi and Danielle Sullivan (6 points).Heil, who was coaching her 700th game, said Peabody had scouted Reading well.?We knew they were tough man-to-man. They pretty much made us go into a freelance offense. They took us out of a set offense, but that was OK,” Heil said.Heil said it was important to keep the lead up over 10 points or so because Reading can shoot the three and in a heartbeat, turn it into a four-point game. She said guard Bridget Clements, who finished with eight points, and Sarah Haase, also a guard, were the two players she was most concerned about. Haase finished with nine points. Natalie Watson led Reading with 10 points. Megan Littlehale had nine.Peabody will play at Central Catholic Saturday (7).?They?re our tournament nemesis,” Heil said. “We?re going to go up there and give it our best shot.”Peabody lost to Methuen in its first game of the tournament last year.