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Dynamic Duo Leads St. John's to Title Game

March 7, 2020

At Matignon High School in Cambridge, St. John's took on Gate of Heaven of South Boston in the State Final Four. A sort handed St. John's would be powered by double figure scoring from Sydney DeRoche and Vic Quagrello, St. John's was able to pull away for the victory.

St. John's came out firing in the first minute as Vic Quagrello hit a bank shot followed by a Sydney DeRoche 3-pointer just 52 seconds in. But Gate of Heaven, the #2 seed who finished the regular season undefeated in the Boston League, would hang tough cutting the lead to one just two minutes later. Quagrello would make a free throw and then feed DeRoche off a steal to push the lead to 8-4. Sophia DiVall came up big on the defensive end with a block which led to another Quagrello basket. Gate of Heaven, led by Boston League MVP Teagan Fitzpatrick's eight points, would keep things tight at 14-12 with four minute left in the half. Meanwhile, St. John's would continue to be led by Quagrello(13 first half points) and DeRoche(8 first half points). DeRoche would hit her second 3-pointer to close out the half with St. John's up 21-15.

DeRoche would keep things going with an early lay up to push the lead to eight before South Boston would make a run. Six straight points would close the lead to just two points. Sophia DiVall was working hard to stop Fitzpatrick from scoring and added an inside basket herself with 9:46 left to make it 25-21. St. John's was preventing any inside scoring by controlling the boards and preventing any second chances. This forced South Boston to shoot from further out and it finally paid off. Fitzpatrick drained a long 3-pointer to even things up with 9:30 left in the game leading to a Gate of Heaven time out. Over the course of the next two minutes the teams would match baskets. With the score even, Quagrello would make two free throws at the 7:45 mark to make it 29-27 and start a run. DeRoche then grabbed a steal and went in for a lay up and Olivia Horton hit a jumper to take momentum back at 33-27. Gate of Heaven would close the gap to 35-30 with just under six minutes to go. Playing with just seven players; St. John's would not falter. Quagrello and DeRoche would each score six points down the stretch to finish with a 12-2 run to pull away for a 47-32 win.

With a chance at the State Final on the line; big players stepped up. For St. John's, Vic Quagrello saved her best game for when it counted most as she finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Not to be outdone, Sydney DeRoche also had her best game with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals as the dynamic duo combined for 41 of 47 points scored. Sophia DiVall grabbed 11 rebounds with 4 points, and 2 blocks while shutting down the league MVP defensively with help from Anna Dahlman(2 rebounds and 2 steals), Jessie Ford(6 rebounds and 5 steals), and Olivia Horton(2 points, 4 rebounds, and a block).

St. John's will now take on undefeated St. Adelaide of Peabody in the State Championship Game scheduled to be played on March 21st.