Girls basketball team preps for state tourney with a thrilling win over Peabody

The Revere High girls basketball team tuned up for the upcoming MIAA State Tournament with an exciting 71-67 win in overtime over Peabody last Thursday.

Coach Diana DeCristoforo and her team, who finished the season with a sterling 16-4 record to earn the fifth seed in the Division 1 North sectional, were set to make their state tourney debut last night (Tuesday) against Lowell at the RHS gym. If the Lady Patriots win that game, they a rematch against Peabody, the number four seed in the sectional, which defeated Everett 71-55 on Monday. The date and place of the possible rematch was yet to be announced as of press time.

“Our win over Peabody was a huge one for our team and the girls’ basketball program,” an elated DeCristoforo said afterwards. “Peabody had defeated us earlier in the season and has eight seniors. They have a very talented and experienced team, so for us to beat them truly was a big step for us.”

Revere held a six point lead at the half, but DeCristoforo urged her team to remain focused and to come out aggressively in the third period. “I reminded them that we had held a 12 point lead two weeks earlier against first place Lynn English, but that we had allowed English to come back. We wanted to make sure that did not happen again.”

The second half saw both teams, who are among the elite of the Northeastern Conference this season, battle furiously, with neither able to gain the advantage. The contest in regulation came down to the final 10 seconds with Revere holding a three point edge, but the Lady Tanners used that aforementioned experience to make a three point shot to send the game into OT.

“We talked during the break about not letting Peabody use the three pointer to change the momentum in their favor, but that now it was a brand new game and that we had to get a quick start,” said DeCristoforo.

Indeed, the Lady Patriots came out charging hard in the overtime and quickly assumed control behind the scoring of Marisa Parent (six points in the OT session) and the end to end play of junior Morgan Jenkins.

Morgan showed why she was the runner up in the voting for the NEC MVP award, as she turned in a virtuoso performance in the overtime to finish up with 25 points and 15 rebounds on the night.

“Morgan stepped up her game to even another level,” said DeCristoforo. “She delivered a monster game at both ends of the floor.”

Parent was next on the point parade with 21 points to go with her seven assists. Backcourt mate Gena Restiano also reached double figures with 11 points.

“In the just the past two weeks between the English and Peabody games, our team has shown a lot of growth,” said DeCristoforo. “”I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished this season. We’re ready for the tourney.”