WINTHROP — It may have gotten a little too close for comfort at the end, but the girls basketball team had just enough left in the gas to close out a 41-36 victory in the consolation game of the David Green Holiday Tournament Saturday morning at Winthrop High School.
The Pioneers (1-4, 0-2 Cape Ann League) led from nearly start to finish and had stretched their 25-16 halftime lead to 36-21 going into the fourth quarter, but the Vikings fought back, shutting down the Pioneers’ offense while ramping up its own to make a game of it until they simply ran out of time.
“Things got a little interesting but we managed to hold on,” head coach Sue Breen said. “It was another hard-fought affair.”
Senior captain Taylor Valiton had a team-high nine points, while freshman Olivia Braley scored eight. Sophomore Hayden Valiton and senior captain Emma Rose scored seven points each. Freshman. Calleigh Caprio scored six points, all in transition, while sophomore Maeve Wertz and freshman Chloe Grieves rounded out the scoring with two points each.
“We had really balanced scoring today,” Breen said, adding that Hayden Valiton and Caprio “played really good defense as well.”
The Pioneers are off until Friday, Jan. 3 when they host CAL rival North Reading. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.
Stoneham 53
Lynnfield 43
The Pioneers had a 23-19 lead at halftime, but couldn’t hold it in the opening round of the Green tournament Friday.
“This was another hard fought game from beginning to end,” Breen said. “We had a tough third quarter. We missed some shots and Stoneham made theirs. Plus, we were doomed again by too many turnovers.”
Hayden Valiton scored a team-high 19 points. Grieves had a monster double-double with 20 rebounds and 11 points. Taylor Valiton (6 points), Wertz and Rose (4 points each) and Liv Braley (one point) also scored.
Trailing 9-8 after the first quarter, Lynnfield heated up in the second, outscoring Stoneham 15-10.
“A bright spot was getting to the free throw line and taking 35 free throws (making 23),” Breen said. “Overall a good effort. We are starting to click a little better. With a lot of new young players, it is going to take some time.”
