BOSTON - Down 25-9 in the second quarter of the MIAA Division 2 girls' basketball state semifinal, Arlington Catholic Cougars coach Dave Brady called his third timeout of the first half.
"The first timeout was to fix some mistakes," Brady said, describing the mood in the huddle. "The second timeout, I said, 'Girls, we have to do what we do with heart and energy... the third timeout, I said 'That's enough."
It most certainly was.
The Cougars ended the first half on a 23-6 run and defeated the Hopkinton Hillers 65-57 at TD Garden Monday.
The run was capped by Nicole Cantizone's three at the halftime buzzer to put the Cougars up 32-31 at halftime. Cantizone finished the game with 15 points.
Hopkinton's Alee Leteria led all scorers with 28 points, in addition to 5 rebounds. Emma Roberson led the Cougars with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals.
The game went back and forth throughout much of the second half, with Hopkinton's Lindsey Doucette (12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists - all to Leteria) hitting a couple of key threes. But it was Roberson and Cantizone who made the difference, as they made their shots and sunk their free throws when Hopkinton didn't. They also got support from Maura Buckley (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals) and Kayla Awizsus (7 points, 7 rebounds off the bench).
Arlington Catholic will face either Millbury or Wahconah in the Division 2 state championship Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester.
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