PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Agganis South MVP colleen Corcoran, left, of Bishop Fenwick has her shot blocked by North MVP Jessica Lezon of North Reading during the Agganis All-Star girls basketball game on Monday.
By KATIE MORRISON
LYNN — One of the biggest challenges in the Agganis All-Star games is playing alongside athletes from other teams, some familiar, some not.
That wasn’t much of an issue for the South team in the 12th annual Agganis All-Star girls basketball game Monday at Classical High. Four members of Bishop Fenwick’s Division 3 state champion team combined for 18 of the South’s points in its 32-29 win.
Fenwick’s Colleen Corcoran didn’t miss a beat coming off the the title her team won in March, racking up 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals for the South, earning the MVP award. Her teammates, Ellen Fantozzi (2 points, 4 rebounds, steal), Sydney Brennan (2 points, 1 rebound) and Melissa MacKenzie (2 rebounds) chipped in to help the South edge the North.
The North’s MVP, North Reading’s Jessica Lezon, also had a monster game, recording a double-double (14 points, 15 rebounds). Peabody’s Christa Baker made an impact as well (4 points), and her teammate Marina Demild added three points and three rebounds. Pentucket’s Carolyn Modlish added three points and six rebounds for the North.
South coach Jason Cantwell, of Mystic Valley, had the luxury of playing all four Fenwick players at once, adding Meghan Foley, from his own squad, in with the Crusaders. Foley fit right in, and the five were a force to be reckoned with on the floor.
“It was nice, they got to play together and they did most of the work,” Cantwell said. “Colleen’s a phenomenal player, and it worked out nicely for all of them. It was a lot of fun.”
Corcoran put up seven points for the South in the first half as it climbed out of an early hole. St. Mary’s Katie Dixon, Foley, Pope John’s Gianni Hill and Beverly’s Melissa Lubas each chipped in two points in the half.
Yet, the South still found itself down by a pair at the half, 17-15. Lezon put up six in the half, and Baker added four. Pentucket’s Rebecca Torrisi made three free throws to add to the lead.
The second half was much like the first, in the sense that both teams struggled to score.
“I would have expected a little more offense, but the defense was there on every possession. They were playing hard,” said Cantwell.
Corcoran again led the way for the South and Lezon for the North. Lezon sunk a pair of free throws late to pull the North a little closer, but the South closed it out for the win.
“We played zone the first half, and we went to man in the second half,” said North coach Stan McKeen, from Peabody. “We lost a lot of rebounds under the basket, though. They got stripped. They were just faster. But hey, it’s supposed to be a fun game, and it was fun.”
McKeen and his assistant coach, his daughter, Tracy, said that Lezon played well, as well as Torrisi and Modlish.
“Rebecca, she played well, handled the ball well, went to the basket,” said Tracy McKeen. “Carolyn was tough out there, boxed out well and went after loose balls.”
The win was a perfect end to what was a magical season for the Fenwick girls. After spending so much time on the court with her Crusaders teammates, Corcoran was glad to get one last chance to play alongside them.
“It was so much fun, we haven’t played with each other in a while, but the chemistry is still there,” said Corcoran. “It’s a lot of fun to be able to get back out with them. And to win MVP, it’s an honor, all around.”
