Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior forward Katelyn Rourke looks to drive on Longmeadow in the state final.
SPRINGFIELD – Watertown had Longmeadow right where they wanted them in the MIAA Div. 2 girls basketball state final, with an eight point lead midway through the third, but the title slipped from their grasp and Longmeadow won 36-31.
Watertown came out of the half and put up the first five points, punctuated with a lay up by junior center Shannon Murphy with 4:22 left in the third. A three pointer by Antonellis extended the Watertown lead to 29-21.
The Lancers ate away at the lead and back to back shots by 6-foot-3 center Kayla Mokwuah gave Longmeadow the 31-29 lead with 5:24 left in the fourth. A few minutes later Olivia Shapiro hit a three from the corner to put the Lancers up seven.
The Raiders struggled early to deal with Longmeadow’s Mokwuah, who had three blocks in the first quarter and lead all scorers at halftime with 7 points.
Watertown battled back to 10-9 after one, and again fought back after falling behind in the second. Murphy got a pass inside and was fouled as time ran out. She hit both free throws to tie the game 21-21 at halftime.
Rourke lead Watertown with 9 points, and Murphy and Antonellis each had 8 points. Mokwuah had 13 to lead Longmeadow and Shapiro had 11.
See how the game unfolded by clicking here.