BRIDGEWATER – With a return to the Div. 2 state final in sight, Medfield imposed its will on both sides of the ball Tuesday night.
The top-seeded Warriors had every starter show they can shoot in a convincing 69-47 girls basketball victory over No. 5 North Quincy at the Adrian Tinsley Center at Bridgewater State University.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Medfield coach Mark Nickerson about taking down North Quincy in the state semifinals. “It’s never easy. I don’t care what the score says, (North Quincy) was very, very good. … They were tough. They play hard. They’re talented. They play physical, so it’s nice to beat them.”
After falling behind North Quincy (20-4) 5-2 early, Medfield (22-2) put together a 10-0 run to go up 12-5 and pushed the lead out to 23-13 at the end of one as sophomore Naya Annigeri and freshman Abby Broderick each netted seven in the frame.
“I don’t see every other team play every night and I don’t practice with every other team, but it’s hard for me to believe there’s too many players better than her in the state,” Nickerson said about Annigeri.
In the second quarter, the Warriors’ defense stepped up as they did not allow a field goal for seven-plus minutes as the Raiders scored on their first and last possession of the quarter as Medfield went up 37-18 with a 14-5 advantage in the second. Annigeri again scored seven points to have 14 at the half.
“We communicated all the game,” said junior captain Izzy Kittredge about the total team effort on the defensive end. “We have good trust in each other, so it’s moving where everyone’s going to be and where they’re going to be on the right spot is critical for us.”
The lead ballooned to 22 early in the third for Medfield before North Quincy cut the deficit to 16. The Warriors led 51-33 after three.
In the fourth, the Raiders knocked down some shots to make it a 55-40 contest, but a triple for junior captain Tess Baacke opened it up to 58-40 with just over five minutes left.
Annigeri finished with a game-high 23 points, while Broderick added 17 points and Baacke chipped in with 16 points, with 10 of those coming in the second half.
“It can be anyone on any given night,” Kittredge said about the team’s offense. “It’s just really good to have such amazing teammates and rely on them no matter what.”
Kittredge collected seven points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
For North Quincy, sophomore A’laya Colbert led with 10 points and 10 boards.
Originally Published: