Rangers hold off Algonquin
Westborough advances to play Shepherd Hill
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Region - The Westborough and Algonquin Regional high school girls basketball teams renewed their rivalry in a Central Mass. Division 1 Tournament semifinal March 2 at WPI, which was a physical, hard-fought game that the Rangers survived more than they won, 41-36.

"That was one tough game," Westborough coach Scott Kittredge said. "It was a typical Algonquin-Westborough game. There are no secrets between these two teams. They know our plays; we know their plays. I thought the key for us was our defense. We made enough stops, and made them when we had to, to pull this one out."

With the win, top-seeded Westborough (22-1) advanced to face 18-4 Shepherd Hill, the No. 3 seed, in the Central Mass. Division 1 fi- nal at 7 p.m. Saturday March 8 at WPI's Harrington Auditorium. Algonquin, the No. 4 seed, finished its season with a 17-5 mark.

The trip to the final is the Rangers' second straight. They were defeated in the game last season by Holy Name. Westborough is looking to wear its first Central Mass. Division 1 crown since 2002.

The Rangers led, 33-28, after three quarters, but Algonquin rallied to tie the game, 33-33, with 4:53 to play, on a free throw by Theresa Logan, a jumper from the right corner by Christine Otey and a shot from the elbow by Liz Conti.

After several changes in possession failed to yield any points, Westborough's Liz Power scored a pair of hoops with slicing drives to the basket on consecutive possessions to push the Rangers ahead, 37-33, with 87 seconds to play.

"I saw that the lane was open, so I just put my head down and drove to the basket," Power said. "We have a lot of weapons in our off ense and I think at that point they worried about some of my teammates getting the ball and scoring, and that opened things up, just enough, for me."

The fact Power was playing on a injured leg and hadn't scored up to that point in the game may have explained why the Tomahawks were giving her a smidgen more space offensively than her teammates.

"Liz is a tough, gutsy kid," Kittredge said. "She's banged up, she's limping up and down the court all game, but when it came time for the two biggest hoops of the game, she was right there for us."

Danielle Coffey helped seal the victory for Westborough by hitting a pair of free throws to push the Rangers' lead to 39-33 with 58.8 seconds to play.

Coffey paced Westborough's off ensive attack with 12 points, while Emily Mongeau added 10 and Annette Kristiansen nine.

The Tomahawks lost just five times all season, twice before at the hands of the Rangers. The previous meetings this season, however, were more one-sided as Westborough won by 13 and 16 points.

Logan led the Algonquin attack with 12 points; Conti and Otey added seven each.

"I'm disappointed that we lost, but I am so proud of how hard my kids worked, especially defensively and rebounding," Algonquin coach Ron Jones said. "They just did a super, super job. I think we've closed the gap against Westborough. I think it's a very competitive, exciting rivalry and I think the future is very bright for Algonquin Regional girls basketball."