Stars shine brightly as Quincy girls basketball edges Pembroke in Patriot League thriller
PEMBROKE − The Pembroke High girls basketball team will play at TD Garden on Sunday morning as part of the Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational.
That will be a great atmosphere.
But so was this.
On Tuesday night the Titans came up just short in a marquee Patriot League matchup. In a battle of 6-1 teams, Quincy prevailed, 51-49, as Presidents junior forward Alyssa Hopps heated up in the second half, when she scored 13 of her team-high 19 points. Pembroke got a game-high 22 points from star sophomore guard Alissa Marcella.
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In the end, both teams seemed pleased with the early-season test, especially since both squads are extremely young. There was just one senior (Quincy guard Paige Mann) in the gym with two freshmen starting for Quincy and two sophomores starting for Pembroke. One of those Quincy freshmen, Rory Kennedy, hit a corner 3-pointer with 3:02 remaining to put the Presidents ahead to stay, 46-44.
"Down the line I think it's going to help everybody," Quincy coach Sarah Conlon said of the game, which featured a 13-13 tie after one quarter, followed by Pembroke leads at halftime (27-20) and through three quarters (42-39). "This was a great game, almost a playoff-like experience. For the kids as a learning experience and as a motivator, it's fantastic. And I'm happy we're walking away 2 points ahead."
"Both Quincy and Pembroke are much better teams now than we were at 5 o'clock," Pembroke coach Tim Lopes agreed. "There aren't that many girls high school games that are so loud that you can't hear yourself."
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Although it was not a 1-on-1 battle, the game was a showcase for Hopps and Marcella, who will square off one more time in the regular season, on Feb. 6 at Quincy's gym. Here's a look at where each star (and her team) stands so far:
Alyssa Hopps/Quincy
The 6-foot junior forward was a First Team All-Scholastic last winter when she averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. So far this season she's had 21-point outing against Sharon, plus games of 18 and 17. Hopps, the reigning Fisher Division MVP, is used to success here. In last year's visit to Pembroke she scored a last-second basket to clinch the division crown, Quincy's first since 2016.
"I have really good memories in this gym," she said, "but I wouldn't be here without my teammates, honestly." Hopps saluted junior forward Niamh Gendron (15 points) and added, "I think our rebounding as a team, we stepped it up. We haven't always been a (good) rebounding team, but we definitely were one tonight."
Hopps had just 6 points at halftime but stirred to life in the third quarter, when she had three baskets and an assist. Said Lopes: "We got a little discombobulated with what we were trying to do (defensively against her). She's an elite, elite player. You can't make a mistake with her or she'll punish you."
Hopps rebounded a missed Pembroke free throw with 6.6 seconds left, was fouled and hit one of two free throws for the final margin. "She wants to win, so she is willing to do what it takes to win," said Conlon, whose team was 17-5 last season. "If that means getting a rebound or getting a putback (she'll do it)."
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Hopps said that this season she's focused on "becoming more of an all-around player and setting up my teammates better. Last year the guards really set me up well, so I'm kind of returning the favor."
Alissa Marcella/Pembroke
The 5-9 sophomore guard, who averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds per game last winter, has taken the next step, following the graduation of star forward Deanna Linscott, whom Lopes referred to as a "unicorn" for her combination of size (6-foot) and 3-point ability.
Marcella was coming off a 19-point game against North Quincy last Friday and was the MVP of the Abington Holiday Tournament, thanks in part to a career-high 27-point outing against the hosts.
"I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of surprised," Marcella said with a laugh. "But that's the best kind of surprise. I'm really proud of myself for stepping up when my team needed me. Getting MVP was a boost for me."
"The sky's the limit for her," Lopes said. "She's very clutch, very skilled."
Pembroke appears to have a balanced attack. Marcella came in averaging 13.7 points per game with sophomore point guard Sophie Derochea (12.3) and junior forward Allie Dwyer (10.9) not far behind. The Titans showcased even more depth in this one as juniors Ellie Tam (14 points) and Caroline Balasco (11) provided support.
It wasn't quite enough to overcome Quincy, but at 6-2 the Titans are on an upward trajectory. They were 11-10 last winter and 5-15 in 2021-22.
"I'm proud of all of us," Marcella said. "We fought really hard. And that's really all you can ask for."
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Alyssa Hopps leads Quincy girls basketball to big win over Pembroke
