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Fenwick would love to have its state tournament berth locked up before the North Shore Invitational next weekend, but the focus for Harrington and the Crusaders is simply to get one win at a time.

The Crusaders play St. Mary's of Lynn tonight, then Catholic Central League power Cardinal Spellman and Tewksbury next week before opening the North Shore tourney with Beverly High on Saturday (2 p.m.).

It's hard to predict season-changing moments, but Bishop Fenwick coach Tim Harrington hopes he witnessed one earlier this week.

Fenwick badly needed to catch a break in a brutal early-season schedule that brought narrow back-to-back losses to Melrose (66-63) and Peabody (55-52) in the Tanner City Holiday Tournament last week. The Crusaders were locked in another tight game Wednesday night at Tewksbury when junior point guard Bridget Dullea turned a steal into a 3-point play that gave her team a one-point lead. Fenwick went on to win, 56-54, and improved to 2-4.

The Bishop Fenwick girls basketball team all had that solemn look as they exited the locker room. Even their best game of the young season and a 63-61 lead with 56 seconds remaining against their third top 15 ranked opponent couldn't put the Lady Crusaders out of their misery in the Tanner City Holiday Tournament last night.

Last year's record: 12-9 (lost to Arlington Catholic, 55-41, in Division 2 North first round)

Coach: Tim Harrington (1st season)

Key returnees: Melissa Garabedian, Sr. G; Maddy Bissaillon, Sr. G; Lauren DiCarlo, Jr. F; Bridget Dullea, Jr. G.