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Pentucket girls end season at Garden -- again

Tuesday, March, 11 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

For the second year in a row, Pentucket's season came to an end at the TD Banknorth Garden last evening in the Division 3 state semifinal.

Both years, Archbishop Williams, the Division 3 South champion, ousted the Sachems. Last night's 59-53 loss brings Pentucket's record to 0-2 at the Garden over the last two seasons. In all other arenas, the Sachems are 44-3.

Hundreds of Sachems fans arrived on the 2:30 train into North Station yesterday afternoon to support a Pentucket team that has orchestrated a complete turnaround from its 6-14 record in 2005-2006. This year's team, which included a starting lineup of three sophomores and two juniors, earned the right to play at the Garden by capturing its second consecutive Division 3 North sectional title Saturday at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

The nerves that came with playing Archbishop Williams, the defending state champions, in front of a crowd of 1,000-plus spectators, were evident early as the Sachems fell behind 10-2 before the first timeout.

"We started out horrible," Pentucket coach John McNamara said. "It could've been a disaster; we could've packed it in knowing we were playing the best team in the state."

Instead, the Sachems closed the gap and actually held a 46-45 lead with 5:20 remaining. The Archies (21-2) closed out the game by outscoring Pentucket 13-8.

Pentucket's All-Cape Ann League junior Kirsten Daamen tallied 16 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks before leaving the game with 1:54 remaining due to a leg cramp. "I think she's going to be one of the best players in the state next year," McNamara said. "We'll have to be considered the team to beat in the North region. Thankfully, Archbishop Williams is graduating all of their players except one."

Additional stories:

• Pentucket falls to Archbishop Williams at Garden