Hoosac Valley's Maryn Cappiello listens to Emma Meczywor following a time-out in the D-V girls basketball state championship on March 16, 2025.Chloe Patel

LOWELL ― For the first time since January 9, all three seniors started Sunday’s game for the Hurricanes: Ashlyn Lesure, Emma Meczywor and Maryn Cappiello.

It had been over two months since Hoosc Valley girls basketball lost Cappiello to a torn ACL for the season during the Hurricanes' game against Pittsfield - or so they thought.

Cappiello was cleared to return to play by her doctor within a couple of weeks. She returned to the court soon after, but Hoosac Valley girls basketball coach Jon Frederick was cautious about using her during the regular season.

He had used Cappiello sparingly throughout the postseason, scoring her first basket in the Hurricanes’ win over No. 15 Westport in the Round of 16. But shortly after their semifinal win over No. 3 Maynard, Frederick knew the time was right to start Cappiello.

“(Capiello) was probably good to (start against Maynard), but I didn’t want to really push the envelope at that point,” Frederick said.

“(The injury) still bothers her, but she’s a senior. She deserves (this moment) and we know she’s going to be honest with us. If it bothered her (too much), she’d step aside. She banged up the other knee and she was bleeding pretty good ... it’s a storybook ending to her whole season and career.”

No. 2 Hoosac Valley went on to defeat No. 5 Renaissance, 64-57, in the MIAA Div. V state tournament championship round, clinching the fourth state title in program history.

“I was excited (to start), I knew we could come out here and play like this,” Cappiello said after the game.

“(From) the beginning of the season, (winning back-to-back) was the goal, but my injury was a setback. It was really hard getting back, but it was all worth it and I’m just excited that I could play today and I’m back.”

Lesure finished with a team-high 18 points, with Reagan Shea and Meczywor supporting her with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

“I am so proud of (ourselves), this is our third time being here (at the state finals) and we won two out of the three,” Lesure said. “It’s just an amazing feeling.”

While the road stops here for the Hurricanes on the court, the same cannot be said just yet for Cappiello’s athletic career. The senior is determined to continue pushing through the pain and plans to participate in the Hurricanes' upcoming girls lacrosse season in the spring.