Bishop Feehan’s girls basketball team has managed to overcome nearly each and every obstacle it has clashed with. On Monday night, the Shamrocks were faced with another perennial juggernaut.
Thanks in part to a stunning performance by Julia Webster, her group was able to knock off another titan. The senior captain erupted for 34 points, adding nine rebounds as top-seeded Bishop Feehan clinched its second straight trip to the Div. 1 basketball championship with a 61-38 victory over No. 4 Woburn at UMass Boston.
“These kids, since March 17 of last year, have been waiting for this opportunity,” said Bishop Feehan coach Amy Dolores. “So I’m really happy. Really proud of them.”
Webster’s point total was a season-high in scoring for Bishop Feehan, already an incredible feat in itself. The senior wasted no time in leaving her mark on the highly anticipated Final Four showdown, scoring six points in the opening minutes as Bishop Feehan (20-4) opened the game with an 8-0 run.
The moment forced Woburn coach Stephen Sullivan to burn an early timeout. To his group’s credit, however, the Tanners (19-5) closed the first quarter with a 4-0 streak of their own, trimming it to an 8-4 contest entering the second.
“We definitely knew that they wouldn’t give up,” said Webster. “So we wanted to put our all into it. We never gave up, played every play like our hardest. We worked together as a team, we passed around, shared the ball. It was really good.”
Led by the tandem of Webster and junior guard Charlotte Adams-Lopez, the Shamrocks put their foot on the gas, and never faltered. By the time the half arrived, Bishop Feehan was in control, leading 32-18. Not to mention, Webster had already reached 21 points.
With just under seven minutes remaining in regulation, Webster collected an offensive board, then sank a layup through contact. She hit the ensuing free throw, putting a stamp on things as the Shamrocks pulled ahead, 52-30. From there, they were able to bleed out the clock.
Adams-Lopez filled the statsheet for the Shamrocks as well, finishing with eight points, nine assists and four steals.
Woburn was paced by juniors McKenna Morrison (13 points, seven rebounds) and by Shannon McCarthy (11 point, eight rebounds).
The win propels Bishop Feehan back to the state title game, where it will face the winner of Tuesday’s semifinal bout between No. 2 Wachusett and No. 3 Springfield Central. Should the Shamrocks win next weekend, it would mark the first state title for the program since 2016.
“I definitely knew that we had potential to get back,” Webster said. “Seeing it all pay off feels great. I knew it was going to be hard working out, so we did, and we’re back.”