PEABODY — Perhaps there weren’t many who penciled in the Peabody girls basketball team for a 17-1 mark through the first 18 games of the regular season. But now that they’re at the top of the Northeastern Conference and well on their way to a state tournament run, senior forward/center Liz Zaiter and the Tanners are hungry to make the most of it.
A three-year varsity player, Zaiter said this year’s success has come as a bit of a surprise. The Tanners fell short of the state tournament last year and wanted to make sure they corrected their mistakes this time around.
“The seniors knew there wasn’t going to be a ‘next year,'” Zaiter said. “We’re all playing our hearts out. I honestly didn’t think we’d be as successful as we are now. We’re still playing with each other, it’s the same team. The only difference is two seniors left (from last year’s team) and we have a new freshman (Oluchi Okananwa). This year, right from tryouts, everyone started getting along. We were happy to go to practice, we were happy to go to team dinners. The bond we developed as teammates and friends has helped us play way better on the court.”
At 5’9, Zaiter has the height to make her presence felt in the paint. During last Friday’s 57-41 win at Beverly, Zaiter grabbed 20 rebounds to help keep Peabody undefeated (13-0) against conference opponents.
“I think I’m a big piece to our success,” Zaiter said. “If one of us is missing, it’s not the same. I control the boards a lot, same with (senior forward) Catherine Manning. I’m there for the putbacks and layups. If I’m not there, they have to rely on the 3-point shooting and outside shots. I’m there mainly for work inside the paint.”
Zaiter’s averaging 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, nearly logging a double-double on a nightly basis. She’s shooting 54 percent from the free throw line and has been a defensive force with 38 blocked shots this season. Her goal coming into the season was to leave it all on the line in her final high school basketball campaign.
“I definitely wanted to take this year way more seriously than any other year,” Zaiter said. “Sophomore year I was a bit immature and I missed some games. Last year I got injured. I had to step it up and take it seriously. These are the last games I have. I’m honestly impressed with the way I’ve been playing these past few games.”
Peabody coach Stan McKeen has also been impressed with Zaiter’s play as of late.
“It’s taken her this year to evolve like we thought she might evolve last year,” McKeen said. “She’s become much more physical playing than she did last year. It’s shown in her stats the last five, six games. She’s using her size to her advantage. We’ve been waiting for that since last year. She has come of age this season. She has a nice shot around the basket but she’s using her size and strength to go to the basket.”
With Manning and Zaiter dominating the post, the Tanners have an experienced duo to rely on. Their post-play has helped shore up Peabody’s defense, which McKeen points to as the key to the team’s success.
“The defense, as a whole, is the reason we’re 17-1,” McKeen said. “They’re improving steadfast as the season has gone on. The 3-2 defense we play has been incredible. Colleen (Crotty), Kristina (Rossignoll) and Brooke (Hodas) do a great job up top. Catherine’s an animal on the boards. The other night in Beverly, when they got off a shot it was one-and-done. The big thing with Liz is she’s become more aggressive around the basket this season.
“She’s worked very hard to make her game stronger,” McKeen said. “It took part of the season to get going but over the last few games she has stepped up. She and Catherine make a formidable duo under the basket and they feed off each other, which is good.”
Zaiter’s hoping to continue her basketball career in college. She has drawn interest from Bunker Hill, Plymouth State and Salem State. Hoping to stay close to home, Zaiter’s leaning toward joining the Division III Vikings.
“I want to stay local,” Zaiter said. “Salem State’s where I’m leaning but I’m going to wait until I decide where I’m going to continue my basketball career.”
McKeen’s confident that Zaiter will fit in well at Salem State.
“We actually went to their game against Westfield State (last Saturday),” McKeen said. “They’re graduating Kia Fernandes, their big post player. That would be a good fit or her. She could step in and contribute.”
But before Zaiter can map out her future endeavors, she has unfinished business at Peabody. The Tanners have two regular season games remaining (at Swampscott Thursday, at Gloucester Friday) and would like to jump into the state tournament on a positive note.
“I’m looking to leave my mark at Peabody,” Zaiter said. “This is my last year to do that. I want the underclassmen to remember, ‘Wow, she left an example for us. We have to meet her expectations or more.’
“(The seniors) want to make it further than any of us have been. It’s definitely our time to shine. We have a target on our backs and we don’t want to lose it.”
