FRANKLIN, Mass. - After allowing only 28 points through three quarters, the Franklin defense was opened up by Westford Academy in the fourth. The visiting Grey Ghosts, the defending Div. 1 Central champions, scored 21 points in the quarter and had the ball with 35.5 remaining on the clock, down by just one point, and with a chance to win a second straight game on their final possession.
During the timeout, Franklin coach John Leighton reminded his team to get back to the aggressive, switching defense that had made it successful.
He explained, “ We knew they were going to run a lot of on the ball screens and off ball screens -- just keep moving and try to shake someone free. We just kept switching and getting in the way as best we can.”
Jillian Spolidoro deflected a pass and nearly came up with a steal, but Westford recovered and got the ball to Angela Alibrandi (six points, five rebounds, three blocks). Immediately, the soiphomore was doubled by Lexi Martin and Aubrie Kutil and could only fire up a shot off the backboard. Kutil chased down the loose ball with 3.3. seconds left.
“We were just focusing on staying calm and composed,” said Kutil about the final sequence. “Obviously there were a lot of people here, so we kind of had to connect with each other and communicate and be as loud as possible.”
When asked how she felt when she got her hands on the rebound, Kutil smiled and responded, “It was like okay we’re good now.”
“It doesn’t have to be pretty,” said Leighton.
Both teams started the game by sticking to the perimeter with each hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Jillian Spolidoro hit two of her four three-pointers in the first and Allie Ethier buried one as well, as the Panthers jumped out to a 13-9 lead. Westford only took one shot from inside the arc in the quarter, forcing Franklin to make an adjustment defensively.
“We’ve both scouted each other enough to know what the other is going to do and we both counter-punched pretty well,” said Leighton. “They knocked down a couple early threes so we switched up defenses to take that away and it really kind of slowed down their offense.”
In the second and third quarters, Franklin started to get inside the Westford zone and get points in the paint. Kutil (13 points and seven rebounds) scored six points in the second, twice on assist from Martin and the other on a drive and dish by Pisani. In the third, junior Caroline Maguire came off the bench and got a layup on the same play attacking the base of the Westford zone.
“We were overloading and having one girl go short post,” said Kutil, “so it really pulled out the defense and we just had everyone cutting through and got open looks and lay-ups.”
Leighton said, “I thought eventually we calmed down and started getting the ball inside and once we did Aubrie really took care of business.”
Franklin took a 35-28 lead into the final quarter, but Westford’s offense woke up by attacking the paint. Freshman Elizabeth Arnold (nine points) and Alibrandi each scored four points in the quarter and when Franklin sank in, the Ghosts buried three treys. Westford regained the lead at 42-41 for the first time since it was 6-5.
Ater a timeout, Franklin responded to the challenge. Pisani got into the lane and kicked it out for Spolidoro to knock down her second three of the quarter to get back the lead. After a Westford basket tied it, Pisani drove through the lane to make it 46-44. On the next possession, Martin picked out Kutil for a layup and then she added a turnaround jumper on the left block to make it a six-point lead.
“We have really great three-point shooters and I think when teams scout us they really pick that out,” said Kutil about the success that the Panthers had getting the ball into the post. “To get it in inside and if I don’t have anything or I don’t see anyone then I can kick it back out for the three.”
Just when it seemed like the Panthers had the game under control, Westford got back into it on a three by Desrochers and then a low post basket by Alibrandi.
“Give them credit that they made the shot but I thought our defense broke down,” admitted Leighton. “We were so worried about the three-point shot that we were isolated.”
Needing one more stop, the Franklin defense came through in the clutch and the Panthers survived a scare to reach another district semifinal.
Kutil said, “One point is cutting it a little close, but this is what we’ve been working for all season, so we’re really excited.”
Franklin will take on No. 3 seed Holy Name, which knocked the Panthers out last year, in the semifinal on Tuesday at WPI.
Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.