LOWELL, Mass. - Top-seeded Hoosac Valley fell behind in the first half, but the Hurricanes rode a third quarter wave of momentum en route to a 71-53 win over West Boylston and the division five state championship. The title is the girls' basketball program's third since 2019.
Hoosac Valley jumped out to an early lead before West Boylston seniors Maddie Pitro and Sammie Mullins led the Lions back. West Boylston used a 12-0 run to build a 13 point lead in the second quarter before senior Taylor Garabedian and Hoosac Valley answered, trimming the Lions lead to 32-31 at the half.
The Hurricanes run would continue into the third quarter where they outscored the Lions by a margin of 22 to six. It proved to be too much for West Boylston, who was making its first state finals appearance.
Garabedian said big game experience helped the Hurricanes, but it was bittersweet knowing this would be their final game together as a team.
"It's so awesome," Garabedian said. "Like not even just the seniors have been together, this whole group has been together since third grade, so it's really awesome to finish with a win with this team."
West Boylston's Maddie Pitro would lead all scorers with 23 points while Mullins had 14. Garabedian led Hoosac Valley with 22 points while teammates Abby Scialabba and Ashlyn Lesure chipped with 16 points each.
