Despite a late fourth quarter scoring surge, the Swampscott High School girls basketball team’s season came to a close on Wednesday at the hands of Tantasqua Regional High School, 37-33.
Trailing 30-19 with two minutes left in regulation, sophomore Anna Kanders spearheaded a last ditch effort for the Big Blue to survive the preliminary round of the state playoff tournament. Kanders made two three-pointers in a row on her way to scoring ten straight Big Blue points.
Swampscott narrowed the gap quickly from 11 to four points with under a minute left, but the comeback effort came too little too late.
Accurate free throw shooting in the game’s final seconds sealed the victory for Tantasqua, who will move on to the round of 32. It is the second consecutive year Swampscott has lost in the preliminary round.
“Our game plan was to really use our press and turn turnovers into transition baskets,” said Swampscott Head Coach Katelyn Leonard.
Swampscott’s defense came out of the gates flying, pressuring Tantasqua into making mistakes for the majority of the first quarter. The Big Blue didn’t allow a single point until there was under two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Leonard said the defense was effective early on, but Swampscott just couldn’t convert Tantasqua mistakes into points.
“By not getting that quick lead we were looking for, we were kind of playing from behind the whole time,” said Leonard.
Swampscott trailed 13-11 at the halftime break and 23-15 at the end of the third quarter.
Kanders led all scorers with 15 points. Cecelia Tripp added 11 points for the Big Blue.
“I give Anna and Cecelia a ton of credit,” said Leonard. “They don’t quit those two, and really helped give us a chance.”
Leonard said Tripp is a fun player to coach because she never quits no matter the score.
Despite the disappointing loss, Leonard will look back on this season fondly, she said. The team qualified for the tournament, won its division and defeated Masconomet Regional High School for the first time in at least eight years.
“I think we can learn from this,” said Leonard. “I’m excited to take this loss, feel it and give us motivation for next year…We’re still a young team and they’re hungry.
After qualifying for the tournament each of the last two seasons, Leonard said the goal next year is to win some games and “do some damage” come playoff time.
