BOSTON - Just because there's an NBA three-point line on the court doesn't mean you have to take threes from there.
Apparently, Andover's Nicole Boudreau didn't get that memo.
The junior guard had a game-high 34 points, along with 13 rebounds and 6 steals in the Golden Warriors' 57-51 win in the MIAA Division 1 North finals over the Acton-Boxboro Colonials at TD Garden Friday.
Boudreau sunk six threes, including one from just inside half-court at the halftime buzzer that she knew had gone in as soon as she released it.
"Nothing's better than playing at the Garden," Boudreau said. "We can celebrate for the night, but tomorrow we're back to business."
The game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated, but the Colonials hung in as long as they did thanks to Andover's 9-for-19 performance at the free-throw line. In fact, the Colonials outscored the Warriors 19-8 in the final quarter.
"We know we're not a great free-throw shooting team," Boudreau explained. "That's why we work on it a lot. I guess we'll be shooting a lot more free throws at our next practice."
The Warriors also got 11 points from sophomore Devin Caveney, but senior Natalie Gomez-Martinez, usually a key offensive weapon, was held to eight points because of early foul trouble.
"The game gets harder for me," said Boudreau on playing without Gomez-Martinez. "Now I have to pick up the ball, now I have take on that role as more of a leader, more of a point guard."
The Colonials were led by Elizabeth Belanger's 25 points and 15 rebounds. Belanger scored 16 of her points in the second half, keeping A-B (20-4) within a reasonable margin. But every time they got close, Boudreau and the Warriors (25-1) were there to inflate the lead once again, keeping their hopes of a second straight state championship alive.
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