SWAMPSCOTT — Two traditional rivals squared off in the house of the Big Blue Thursday night, and it was Marblehead’s girls basketball team that prevailed in a 39-35 final.
Talk about the word ‘clutch.’ A Katie Pyne transition three gave the Magicians a 36-32 cushion with just more than three minutes remaining.
“I’m so happy with Katie’s performance tonight. She’s one of our leaders,” said Marblehead coach Paul Moran. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
Hold on. Swampscott, as it was doing all game, responded and got the game to within two (35-33) with 40 seconds left.
After a Big Blue timeout, Leonard designed a play for either Samantha Ward or Eve Byrne. The ball found Byrne who shot a three from the corner, but it just barely rimmed out.
“We set up a play for either Eve or Sam,” said Swampscott coach Katelyn Leonard. “They both were coming off a screen, so either of them could have gotten the ball. Eve was open and she was hot tonight, so it was a good look. For a freshman to have the guts to take it, I’ll take that.”
Marblehead’s Marietta O’Connell got the rebound and was intentionally fouled. She hit the first of two, but redeemed herself the next time she got to the line, cashing in on both for a 38-33 Marblehead lead.
Swampscott’s Olivia Quagrello stormed down the court and finished a nifty euro-step layup to cut the lead to three with 8.6 seconds left.
O’Connell went back to the line and made the game-sealing free throw. When asked how confident Moran was with O’Connell at the line, he praised her “tough-minded” approach.
“Mari is that tough-minded kid… so we always have confidence in her,” Moran said of the cross country star.
For Swampscott, when it needed a basket, the three-point line was its best friend thanks to sharpshooters Ward and Byrne. The duo scored the last seven points in the first half, one that ended in a 20-20 knot.
Although it was Senior Night for Swampscott, its underclassmen showed why the program will be in good hands moving forward.
Ward, a sophomore, and Byrne, a freshman, wanted the ball in their hands all night.
“What I liked was that they wanted the ball – that’s a big difference. Wanting the ball and being confident led to them making the shots,” Leonard said. “I’m really proud of how they stepped up.”
Ward nailed two threes in the third quarter to give the Big Blue a 29-28 lead going into the fourth.
Her defense wasn’t bad, either.
“What she really improved on – compared to last year – was her defense. Defensively, she’s a different player and someone who I relied on to guard some of the other teams’ best players,” Leonard said. “And she has a great shot. If we need a shot, I want her to take it. She was calling for the ball tonight, which I liked.”
Moran, who scored more than 2,000 points (without a 3-point line) while at Swampscott High, was happy to be back on familiar grounds.
“For me, it’s really good to come back here for how Swampscott treated me over the years. They’ve treated me very well,” Moran said. “I love Katelyn. She’s done a great job here and I can’t say enough good things about her. It’s a good win for us, I’m happy.”
He also praised a talented Big Blue opposition.
“Whenever you play someone on their Senior Night, you’re going to get their best,” he said. “They have a lot of talent. Ford, the Quagrellos (of Olivia and Victoria), Ward. I’m missing a couple, but they’re a good team. They’re great kids and work hard.”
Leonard was pleased with her team’s performance.
“We had a lot going with Senior Night and it being one of our last games,” she said. “I think we played with a lot of pride tonight. I think some teams could just pack it up at this point, but we didn’t and we were right there – just a couple of shots here and there, and it would have gone our way.”
She’ll also miss her “great group of girls.”
“They’re fun and play hard,” Leonard said. “They have tremendous hearts and each one of them left a really strong mark on this program. We’re really going to miss them.”
Swampscott’s last home game is Tuesday when it hosts Salem at 11 a.m. Marblehead travels to Everett Monday with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
