WORCESTER – Bishop Feehan has a chance to defend its title.
Lily Singer poured in 16 points as part of a Shamrock scoring attack that had four girls in double figures as No. 2 Bishop Feehan dominated No. 3 Springfield Central, 72-42, in the Division 1 state semifinals on Tuesday night at Worcester State.
Bishop Feehan will face either Braintree or Wachusett in the Division 1 final this weekend at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.
“The players have an unbelievable ability to focus on the immediate task at hand – one game at a time – and they stuck to the idea that if we worked to do the little things right day in and day out we would put ourselves in position to head back to Tsongas,” Bishop Feehan coach Amy Dolores said. “They are committed to each other and the game.”
Feehan stunned the Golden Eagles from the opening tip. Maddy Steel scored four points as part of a flurry over the first three minutes to give the defending champions a 9-0 lead.
Angela Hector tried to keep Springfield afloat but Singer scored seven of her points in the opening frame to give the Shamrocks a 15-7 edge after one. In the second quarter, Feehan separated.
Emmette Barry buried a 3-pointer, Singer finished through contact, and Shannon LaMorticelli dropped in seven points as part of a 22-point frame. At the other end, Feehan’s defense stifled Central. They limited the Golden Eagles to just three second-quarter field goals while forcing six turnovers to jump in front to a commanding 37-17 lead at the half.
“We stayed committed to pushing the ball and our defensive pressure,” Dolores said. “We didn’t want to get comfortable and knew we could not let up.”
The Golden Eagles struggled to generate defensive consistency in the third, allowing the Shamrocks to pull away. Addison Frenette scored six while Singer added four more to allow Feehan to maintain an arms distance and carry a 50-32 lead into the final stanza.
“We had some sophomores come off the bench – Shannon LaMorticelli, Addie Frenette and Emmette Barry – and their energy, hustle and intensity gave us push that helped us separate,” Dolores said