MARSHFIELD – The Twinfield-Cabot girls’ basketball team shrugged off a two-game losing streak by pummeling Stowe in their regular season finale last week and will enter the upcoming Division IV state tournament as the fifth seed.
Alice McLane poured in a career-high 28 points to power the Lady Trojans past Stowe 64-23 at home last Tuesday. The senior center is playing her best basketball at the right time for Twinfield-Cabot, averaging over 18 points in her last five games.
Jorja Washburn added 12 points and Haylee North chipped in with eight for Twinfield-Cabot in the win.
Emilee Mastine led the Lady Raiders with eight and Marin Leonardo added seven in the loss as they finished the regular season at 1-17. Stowe’s only win of the season was against Peoples Academy, a team Twinfield-Cabot split with during the regular season.
Twinfield-Cabot is 12-7 under first year head coach Jack Whalen, recording the program’s first winning season in over a decade. Whalen’s young squad is also preparing to host the programs’ first home playoff game in five years as the girls’ basketball postseason officially tips off this week.
“This is the first time any of these girls are entering the playoffs as one of the top seeds, so obviously there will be some nerves involved. However, we’re not here by accident. We have confidence in each other and our abilities as a team and having the opportunity to have our first game be at home in front of our community is great!” said Whalen.
The Lady Trojans matched up against a Danville team in the first round that they outscored 101-60 in their two regular-season match-ups. Waiting for Twinfield-Cabot in the quarterfinals will more than likely be fourth seeded Williamstown. Whalen’s squad lost both match-ups to the Lady Blue Devils during the regular season, but the two teams played a barn burner just two weeks ago. Whalen played in several big playoff games for the Trojans during his high school career not long ago, but this will be his first time leading a program on the sidelines.
“For the next week, we are going to continue to take everything one day at a time. For me, entering the playoffs for the first time as a coach is very exciting and I feel prepared. I know I have a great group of girls in this program and a great coaching staff beside me. We have a wonderful community supporting us and I know I speak for the team when I say we can’t wait to show off all of our hard work!” said Whalen.
The Lady Trojans hosted twelfth seeded Danville in the first round on Tuesday and if they advance, they will travel to fourth seeded Williamstown on Friday night for a chance to advance to the Barre Auditorium. The Division IV semifinals are scheduled for next Monday night.
