Just 3:30 into the game, Andover was facing a worst-case scenario in its Division 1 North semifinal.
Only moments into play, Golden Warriors All-Scholastic guard Nicole Boudreau was forced to the bench after being called for her third foul. Her teammates found themselves in a hole.
But they did not surrender.
Andover trailed by just three points at the half, and with Boudreau back in action in the second half, the Golden Warriors earned a 69-67 victory over Westford Academy to advance to Friday's North finals at the TD Garden against archrival Central Catholic, in a game tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Andover has beaten the Raiders in two of their three meetings this season.
"When Nicole went to the bench, I was sick to my stomach," said Andover coach Jim Tildsley. "But, when we went into the locker room only down by three, I was skipping in there."
Westford did hold a 65-64 lead, with 48 seconds remaining in the game. But clutch free throws for Boudreau (12 points) and Natalie Gomez-Martinez (game-high 19 points) put the game away.
Stepping up for the Golden Warriors was freshman Devon Caveney and senior Dianna Bill. Caveney came off the bench and led the Warriors with 11 of her 16 points in the first half, while Bill added 13 and pulled down key rebounds.
"Our goal was to get to the Garden, and we've got Central and that's what everyone wanted," said a relieved Tildsley. "But let's just enjoy this for awhile. This was a great high school basketball game."
- From staff reports
Andover 69, Westford Academy 67
Division 1 North Semifinals
Andover (69): Fazio 1-2-5, Gomez-Martinez 6-5-19, Caveney 6-0-16, Bill 4-5-13, Boudreau 4-2-12, A.Alois 1-2-4. Totals 22-16-69
Westford (67): Scrist 1-0-2, Parker 1-4-6, Gallant 2-0-5, Wright 2-0-4, Malboeuf 3-1-7, Boyle 5-4-15, Ewing 12-2-26, Webb 1-0-2. Totals 27-11-67
3-pointers: A — Fazio, Gomez-Martinez 2, Caveney 4, Boudreau 2; W — Gallant, Boyle
Andover (22-3):13�Ç20�Ç23�Ç13 — 69
Westford Academy (20-3):17�Ç19�Ç11�Ç20 — 67
