PEABODY — The Peabody girls basketball team controlled all phases of the game in a 69-32 win over Northeastern Conference opponent Marblehead at Peabody’s Field House Friday night.
Peabody’s night was highlighted by a 20-2 run in the first quarter that helped the Tanners grab an early 14-point lead.
Kristina Rossignoll led all scorers with 18 points. Liz Zaiter (12 points, eight rebounds) and Catherine Manning (11 points, seven rebounds) each had great nights on both sides of the game. Oluchi Okananwa added 13 points while hauling in six rebounds with seven steals.
“I think the inside and outside game worked real well for us tonight,” Peabody coach Stan McKeen said. “We hit shots from the outside and we also got the post people involved. Liz had a good night, Kristina, Catherine, and Oluchi as always had a great night. It was a good team effort.
“Our defense is what has helped us win games,” McKeen added. “All year long it has been great. We got some turnovers, we made baskets down the other end. We must’ve had a good free throw percentage tonight too. We shot real well from the line.”
Magicians coach Paul Moran was disappointed with the officials during the game, specifically a technical foul called in the first half during the Tanners 20-2 run.
“I just think a big play in the game was when I got a technical foul for telling my girl to get up and play defense,” Moran said. “The referee ruined the game. It’s so wrong. I tell my girl to get up and I get hit with a technical foul. In 22 years I’ve gotten one technical coaching on the boys side. This is my second one. It ruined the game. And Peabody’s such a great team, we came in here with all the respect in the world for them. Once that happened it ruined the game.
“It’s just terrible,” Moran added. “It’s so frustrating. You work so hard coming in with the kids and to have a referee take the game out of your hands, it’s not what I was here for.”
Maddy Lowy led the Magicians with 12 points. Emily Clough added six points and seven rebounds.
Marblehead got out to a quick start shooting the basketball. Annika Haley hit an early 3-pointer and Lowy hit two threes of her own a few minutes later to help the Magicians take a 11-7 lead.
“I think initially it’s like anything,” McKeen said of the slow start. “Sometimes we have to get into the game. Marblehead came out flying. They made a couple of threes from the corner and we weren’t playing the defense we were capable of playing.”
Zaiter got Peabody started from there. The senior made two free throws and then added two consecutive baskets in the paint to put the Tanners ahead. Rossignoll added to the run late in the first, hitting a 3-pointer and converting an and-one to put Peabody ahead 27-13.
The Tanners kept their foot on the gas in the second. Okananwa capped the first half with a pair of free throws and two late baskets to extend Peabody’s lead to 38-20.
Any hope of a Marblehead rally in the second half was erased quickly. Rossignoll opened the half with a 3-pointer and then Brooke Hodas added another a few minutes later to push Peabody’s lead to 44-20.
From there the Peabody defense contained Marblehead and kept the game well out of reach.
“We distributed the ball well and were a real unselfish team tonight,” McKeen said. “I thought in the second half we moved the ball well. It created easy opportunities for baskets and we made our shots.”
The Tanners improved to 14-1 with the victory. Peabody hosts Arlington Sunday afternoon (1:30) in a non-conference game. The Magicians hope to bounce back into the win column Tuesday night (7) when they travel to Everett.