FOXBORO, MASS. – Opening round games featuring the number 3 and 14 seeds is becoming all too familiar for the Foxboro girls basketball team.
Last year, Foxboro was seeded 14th and played the role of spoiler of #3 North Attleboro.
Fast forward to Tuesday night – after a stellar 18-2 regular season – Foxboro was slotted into the #3 seed and hosted #14 Milton in the opening round of this year’s tournament.
The Warriors were close to suffering an upset themsevles but they dug deep, played with heart and surpassed the Wildcats in the final seconds with a 41-35 victory.
The first three quarters of play offered a tenacious defensive battle and Foxboro and Milton combined for just 33 points heading into the final quarter of play. The Warriors didn’t hit a single field goal attempt (0-14 from the floor) in the third quarter while Milford was able to keep Kat Tamulionis in check with just three points. Foxboro wasn’t satisfied with their play despite leading by one, 17-16, going into the final eight minutes.
“They definitely did their homework on us and they just jam-packed the paint so it took away our drives and our offense usually attacks the hoop,” Foxboro head coach Lisa Downs said. “They were allowing us shots outside but we were unfortunately unable to hit the shots. We got some good looks but they just weren’t able to go in. Defense, we did exactly what we wanted to do. They were definitely a better team than what their record indicates this season.”
The closing quarter lived up to the tournament hype though, with both teams swapping baskets and eventually Foxboro creating enough separation room to walk out with a statement.
Milton appeared to have momentum going into the final four minutes. After a basket by Lucy Crawford, the Wildcats answered again. Margaret Corcoran went 1-2 from the foul line but Kendall Stanley came down with an offensive rebound. Stanley was fouled and made a free throw to tie the score at 24. Milton took the lead at 26-24 on a steal and drive by Kelly Shea. Foxboro answered right back though on Tamulionis’ lone field goal of the game. That moment was when the momentum shifted to the Warrior side.
Things started going Foxboro’s away and they were able to manufacture a game winning 15-9 run to close out the final three minutes. Freshman Ashley Sampson did not let the pressure of playing in her first tournament game get to her. The poised guard didn’t blink an eye as the freshman gathered nine of the Warrior's 15 points during the run – all coming from the free throw line.
A huge play during the run was Cassidy Harrison taking a charge when the Wildcats could have tied the score at 32 on the possession with 2:02 left. Sampson’s heroics – shooting 9/10 at the foul line – undoubtedly was the deciding factor which let Foxboro walk away with the 41-36 opening round victory.
“Thank God for our free throw shooting and Ashley Sampson at the line (9-10 in final quarter),” Downs said. “Just a freshman and for the amount of people here and the amount of noise, she was able to shut them all out.
“I’m very proud of them and some nights the ball isn’t going to go in even though as much as they do it in practice and the 20 games prior to this,” Downs continued, “We were taking good shots, we weren’t forcing up any shots, and we weren’t shooting as much as I would have liked in the first quarter.”
Foxboro had gone just 4-31 from the floor in the first three quarters before knocking down five out of seven shots from the floor in the fourth. Free throws were pivotal for the Warriors as they sunk 19/24 from the line. Sampson led the team with 13 points followed by nine from Harrison and Tamulionis with seven. However, the Warrior defense was dominant as the Wildcats struggled to buy a basket before the final quarter. Milton shot just 10/33 in the first three quarters before 4/8 in the fourth.
“We weren’t shooting confidently so we were just trying to take some short pull up jumpers and gain some confidence by hitting the short ones,” Downs said. “It wasn’t our night offensively but we stepped up defensively and that’s all I can ask for.”
Margaret Corcoran played a key role for the Wildcats in the first half. The senior forward ended up with a double-double at 15 points and 11 rebounds but most of her numbers came in the opening quarters she put up seven points to go along with eight boards.
Foxboro had a 9-8 lead going into the second quarter, which offered just three points between the two teams. The Warriors took an 11-9 lead going into the locker room and Kat’s sister, Grace Tamulionis, had four of the 11 points.
The aggressive defensive battle continued into the third. Milton scored three straight points on a basket and free throw from Corcoran before Foxboro answered back with three points of their own to end the quarter on three made throws – two by Sampson and one by Tamulionis. The Warriors led 17-16 going into the decisive final quarter.
The next test for Foxboro comes on Thursday as they play host to Notre Dame Academy in the quarterfinal of the tournament.
“I told them that I give them one pass and to enjoy tonight,” Downs said of her team’s preparation for Notre Dame Academy. “Tomorrow, we will get back to the basics – running all of our offenses, do a lot of shooting, and get that confidence back in the shooting.”