WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Out to win the first women's basketball Commonwealth Coast Conference title in school history, Endicott is now just one step away from realizing that goal.
The Gulls hit the road last night and, behind 11 points each from Nicole Heffernan and Samantha Crough, knocked off top-seeded University of New England, 53-49, at the James A. Beaudry Gymnasium in Biddeford, Maine.
Endicott (17-10) did an outstanding job defensively in holding the hosts to under 24 percent shooting from the field. In addition, five different players (Jordan Ferland, Kayleen Whall, Jennifer White, Jen McBrien and Julie Manning) blocked shots while White hauled down 11 rebounds.
Whall also had a strong game with six rebounds and five assists for the victorious Gulls, who will play for the CCC crown tomorrow at Salve Regina in Newport, R.I. (2 p.m.).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
SALEM STATE 96, MCLA 75: The top seeded Vikings got a game-high 28 points from Brian Clark, who hit 8-of-12 floor shots and 11-of-14 from the foul line to send his team back into tomorrow's MASCAC title game against visiting Bridgewater State (2 p.m.).
Nate Simpson had a huge game of his own with 15 points and 18 rebounds (7 on the offensive glass) to go with a pair of steals and three blocked shots for Salem State. Tavone Wynder added 13 points off the bench while Andrew White was also in double figures with 12 points and a game-high seven assists.
ENDICOTT 71, ENDICOTT 67: Lance Greene scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added three steals as the Gulls (19-8) went on the win and picked up a win to advance to tomorrow's Commonwealth Coast Conference title game against top seeded Salve Regina (7 p.m.).
Endicott, which trailed by a point at halftime, got 12 points and the same number of rebounds from Erik Callo, who also had four assists. John Henault (11 points, 3 steals) and Tyler Burkhardt (10 points, 4 assists off the bench) were other heroes for the winners.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Marblehead 6, Bishop Fenwick 0: Marblehead 11, Bishop Fenwick 0: Goalies Aly Hopkins and Sabrina Doughman each stopped two shots for the shutout as the Lady Headers (12-7-2) closed the regular season with their fifth straight win. Meg Gray had two goals and two assists to power the offense while Casey McDonald had two goals and an assist. Katie Zarinsky and Rachel McKay also scored twice each and Brittany Smith had one marker and two helpers. Eliza Quigley finished with a goal and an assist, and Keelin Fallon also scored.
Candace Parks was busy in the Bishop Fenwick goal, stopping 42 shots.
Wakefield 4, Beverly 2: Despite a pair of goals from Nicole Woods, the Panthers (12-8-2) dropped their regular season finale. Katie Szela added an assist for Beverly while Jenna Lo Vasco had 16 saves in goal.
BOYS BASKETBALL
PEABODY 68, sOMERVILLE 65 (ot): : The Tanners had four players in double figures to procure their fourth straight win, avenging an early season loss to Somerville. Jason Hiou led the offense with 13 points while Steve Girolomo and Jared McCarron both added a dozen and Ben Martinez chipped in with 11.
"The guys really got after it defensively in the second half," said Peabody (10-10) coach Thad Broughton. "It was nice to get a win like this right before the state tournament."
Salem 68, Everett 57: Marvin Baez dropped in a game-high 27 points while Christian Dunston also had a big night with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Witches (12-10) swept their home-and-home series with the Crimson Tide. Salem jumped out to a 16-point lead at halftime (42-26) and never let the home team back in it. Kaleo Jacobs added seven points off the bench in the first half for the winners while Taylor Norris grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
BOSTON LATIN 50, DANVERS 43: Despite the loss at home, the Falcons (16-4) will head into the Division 3 North state tournament as the No. 2 seed when the pairings are announced today.
