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Star Georgetown center Taryn O'Connell broke the school's all-time girls scoring record, racking up 28 points to bring her career total to an amazing 1,328. O'Connell also grabbed 15 rebounds in the Royals' 75-72 overtime loss to Manchester Essex. As if O'Connell's record-breaking performance wasn't enough, the game was decided in riveting fashion, as well.

It's been a case of bad luck for Taryn O'Connell and her Georgetown Royals each of her last two big milestones. A year ago her 1,000th point came in the teams final game of last season, a loss in the state tournament. Against Manchester Essex, O'Connell broke the all-time Georgetown girls basketball scoring record with 28 points to go with 15 rebounds to put her at 1,325 career points putting her three points clear of former record holder Megan O'Connor (1,322 points). Again it came in a loss to the Hornets on a buzzer-beater, in over-time from half-court, 75-72.

Shannon Hartford was also marvelous at the point for the Royals scoring a career high 15 points, dishing out 12 assists, and collecting five rebounds. Haley Gisonno had 12 points, and Kelly O'Brien play outstanding defense for the Royals.

Jen Rock led Triton with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Brittany Caprio had 11 points for the Vikings (6-7).

"I couldn't ask for a better effort," Triton coach Karen Christian said. "We were in the right spots, we just couldn't put it in the basket."

The Sachems (13-1) led 20-2 after one quarter and 29-2 at halftime. Eleven of the 13 Sachem players scored points.

"I couldn't be prouder of the girls," Pentucket coach John McNamara said. "They managed the game well. They gave up individual statistics to give other teammates opportunities."

 Brittany Caprio led a terrific Triton outing with 11 points and seven assists as the Vikings led from start to finish and won, 46-25. Caleigh Mehan had nine points, Lauren Mihalchik had six points and seven rebounds, and Jen Rock had six points and eight rebounds all for the Vikes.

"We played great defense," said North Reading head coach Karla Sullivan after her team held Rockport to just 12 points in a 44-point blowout, 56-12.

Alison Friberg led the Hornets with 14 points Casey Denofrio added eight.

Lindsey Tomasz scored eight points to lead Newburyport (3-5). Beth Castantini added seven.

Caitlin Hill (10 points) and Lindsey Tomasz (9 points) led the way as the Clippers defeated Rockport handily, 52-21.

Senior center Kirsten Daamen had 20 points and 18 rebounds for Pentucket (8-1). Erin McNamara added 12 points. Andrea Attenasio scored 10. Pentucket led 34-16 at halftime.

Danielle Fournier and Bri Connolly scored 10 points each and Fournier grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the North Andover girls basketball team to a 48-15 win ovr Rockport. It was the first varsity points scored by both players.

The Georgetown girls basketball team crushed Rockport yesterday, 72-27, to improve to 1-1.

Said coach BarriAnn Alonzo, "Everyone had a personal challenge to accomplish, and they worked hard to do it. We had some mistakes to fix from our first game, so we set goals, and we made them. When we can do that, we will come out with a win."

Coming off a one-point loss to rival Manchester Essex, Georgetown dropped the hammer down in the second quarter against Rockport, outscoring the Vikings by 17 points and never looking back in a 72-27 win.

Taryn O'Connell showed off midseason form, erupting for 30 points and 12 rebounds for Georgetown in a 64-63 heartbreaking loss at Manchester.

Georgetown, which opened the game in an 11-0 hole, actually had the ball with a chance to win with 4.9 seconds to play but couldn't click.

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As we still sit in limbo waiting for the high school spring sports season to begin, now is as good a time as any to clean out the old inbox and take a  look at how a few of our local athletes are performing at their respective colleges.