So far, it’s gone pretty according to play for Newburyport.
After consecutive setbacks to Pentucket and Georgetown two weeks ago, the Clippers vowed that the “first half” of their season was done, and they were starting back over a brand new unit. The declaration worked as intended, with a 20-point victory over Essex Tech as the start to the “second half,” followed by a nice win over Hamilton-Wenham where they had to hold on an execute late.
And now, it’s three in a row.
Late last week, Newburyport kept the train rolling with its second win of the season over rival Triton, 45-32. Leading the charge was junior Olivia Foley with 12 points, as the Clippers (8-5) jumped up to No. 21 in the latest Division 3 rankings with the victory. Olivia McDonald was dialed in with a pair of 3s and 10 points, and freshman Ava Bailey added 9.
For Triton (7-7), Bella Basile hit a 3 and had 9 points, while Kendall Liebert chipped in 8. The Vikings are on a little bit of a skid, but will look to get back on track when they host Georgetown on Monday.
Meanwhile, Newburyport will look to make it four straight when it hosts Manchester-Essex on Monday.
GEORGETOWN WINS IN BACK-TO-BACK DAYS
There were no tired feet for Georgetown late last week.
It started on Thursday, when the Royals hosted Amesbury and were able to hold on late for a 40-36 win. Then the following day, the Royals had a make-up game against Lynn Classical from earlier in the year, but even on the back-to-back found a way to pull out the 49-37 victory.
Senior Tyrah Marcelin has had an excellent season for Georgetown (9-6), and led the way against Amesbury with 11 points. Her younger sister, Neiylah, hit a 3 and chipped in 8 points, and fellow sophomore Katie Davies added 6. For the Redhawks (4-11), freshman Celia Tavares had a team-high 10 points, and Cali Catarius was right behind with 7.
A day later, the Marcelin sisters took over.
Both hit two 3s against Lynn Classical, but this time it was Neiylah out in front with 15 points while Tyrah finished with 14. Talya Mariani also hit two 3s and added 8 points, and both Davies and Avery Upte had 5.
Georgetown, which has now won three in a row, will be at Triton on Monday.
PENTUCKET CRUISES PAST ESSEX TECH
The bench continues to get a lot of playing time for Pentucket.
It’s now 11 straight wins for the Panthers after a 59-19 blowout over Essex Tech on Thursday, and all but one of those victories have been by double figures. Amelia Crowe led the way again with 13 points, senior tri-captain Ava DiBurro hit a pair of 3s and had 11 and Allie Gagnon added 9.
Pentucket (14-1), ranked No. 8 in Division 3, will look to keep it rolling against Amesbury on Monday.
Georgetown 40, Amesbury 36
Georgetown (40): Pierson 0-0-0, T. Marcelin 5-1-11, Kane 0-0-0, Morrison 1-0-2, Mariani 1-1-4, Thompson 0-0-0, Ziolkowski 0-0-0, Davies 2-2-6, Upite 2-0-5, Ne. Marcelin 3-1-8, Na. Marcelin 2-0-4. Totals 16-5-40
Amesbury (36): Catarius 1-5-7, Levasseur 2-2-6, E. Talbot 2-0-5, Bolth 0-0-0, Tavares 3-4-10, Marden 1-3-6, Malburg 0-0-0, L. Talbot 1-0-2. Totals 10-14-36
3-pointers: G — Mariani, Upite, Ne. Marcelin; A — Talbot, Marden
Records: Georgetown 8-6, Amesbury 4-11
Newburyport 45, Triton 32
Triton (32): Renda 1-0-2, D’Andrea 3-0-6, Lesinski 0-1-1, Jones 1-0-2, McDonald 0-0-0, Basile 4-0-9, Liebert 2-4-8, Welch 2-0-4, Hatheway 0-0-0. Totals 13-5-32
Newburyport (45): Lawton 0-0-0, Downey 0-0-0, McDonald 4-0-10, Hopwood 1-1-3, Rouba 0-0-0, Metsker 1-2-4, Seidel 0-0-0, Pavao 1-2-4, Schwab 0-1-1, Thompson 1-0-2, Bailey 3-2-9, Foley 5-2-12. Totals 16-10-45
3-pointers: N — McDonald 2, Bailey; T — Basile
Triton (7-7): 4 11 8 9 — 32
Newburyport (8-5): 9 15 14 7 — 45
Pentucket 59, Essex Tech 19
Pentucket (59): Cacciapuotti 1-0-2, Thompson 1-0-2, S. Bellacqua 2-0-4, Conover 1-0-2, Gagnon 3-3-9, DiBurro 4-1-11, G. Bellacqua 2-0-6, Foley 1-0-2, Crowe 5-2-13, King 1-0-3, Walsh 0-0-0, Dancewicz 2-0-5. Totals 23-6-59
3-pointers: DiBurro 2, G. Bellacqua 2, Crowe, King, Dancewicz
Pentucket (14-1): 18 16 13 12 — 59
Essex Tech: 2 1 9 7 — 19
Georgetown 49, Lynn Classical 37
Georgetown (49): Pierson 0-0-0, T. Marcelin 6-0-14, Hughes 0-0-0, Kane 0-0-0, Morrison 0-0-0, Mariani 2-2-8, Thompson 0-0-0, Davies 2-1-5, Upite 2-0-5, Ne. Marcelin 6-1-15, Na. Marcelin 1-0-2. Totals 19-4-49
3-pointers: T. Marcelin 2, Mariani 2, Ne. Marcelin 2, Upite
Records: Georgetown 9-6