RallyNorth.net

Georgetown's miracle run continues

Saturday, March, 07 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

BOSTON – Taryn O’Connell was in the stands the last time the Georgetown girls basketball team played at TD Banknorth Garden. In March 2004, the future Royals watched with stars in their eyes.

“They’ve wanted this since the seventh grade,” coach Barri Ann Alonzo said.

O’Connell, now a senior forward bound for Bates College, almost single-handedly made her dream a reality yesterday. She scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, leading Georgetown to a 65-57 victory over New Mission in the Division 4 North final at Emmanuel College’s Yawkey Center.

“We pulled through,” O’Connell said. “Thank God.”

Georgetown, the last seed in the tourney, didn’t make things easy on itself against the top-seeded Titans. The Royals blew a 51-36 lead in the fourth quarter before O’Connell and company came to the rescue.

With less than two minutes remaining and the score tied at 54, O’Connell hit a layup to put Georgetown up 56-54. On the ensuing possession, New Mission’s Bianca Flores got fouled and hit one of two free throws to make it 56-55.

A few seconds later, sophomore guard Rachael Sherman (4 points) somehow found herself wide open underneath. She calmly sank a jumper from close range to give Georgetown a three-point cushion.

“They were fighting back,” Sherman said. “I know we’d be in trouble if I didn’t make it.”

After a defensive stop, senior forward Haley Gisonno’s (18 points) bucket gave the Royals a 62-55 lead.

Garden, here we come.

“It still hasn’t really hit me yet,” O’Connell said. “We’ve always wanted to go to the Garden.”

Five years ago, when she was in seventh grade, it was the Fleet Center. At this point, O’Connell doesn’t care what it’s called. As long as the Royals are going to be playing in tomorrow’s state final, she’ll be happy. Georgetown, after all, entered the postseason with five wins. Alonzo’s club (9-15) has four victories in the playoffs.

“Considering we only had five wins in the regular season…” O’Connell said.

In other words, it’s a huge accomplishment.

For O’Connell’s mother Mary Beth, this one was nerve racking, especially in the fourth quarter, when a once sizable lead slipped away in the final six minutes.

“This team can go up and down so quickly,” Mary Beth said. “We were holding our breath.”

While New Mission guard Mieshia Reynolds (24 points) put on a show in transition, O’Connell and Gisonno dominated in the post.

“Aren’t they phenomenal?” Alonzo said.

Alonzo, never one to hide her emotions, was jumping up and down during the game’s final minutes.

“I can’t tell you what I was thinking,” she said.

As for O’Connell, there wasn’t much else Alonzo could say. Well, except for one thing.

“She did it.”

The Royals face Millis at the TD Banknorth Garden in the Division 4 state championship on Monday. Time is TBA.