By David Willis
BOSTON — Andover freshman Devon Caveney still looked in awe of the game she had just delivered.
"I just had the best game of my life," she said, "and it was at the (TD) Garden. I can't believe it."
In fact, Caveney turned in a pair of tremendous performances at the TD Garden in the Golden Warriors' victories over Central Catholic and Mansfield to earn a berth in the Division 1 title game.
"Devon just plays with a kind of confidence that most freshman don't have," said Andover coach Jim Tildsley.
Caveney set the tone on Friday. In a game with more than enough highlights, her play may have been the most impressive at the 2:27 mark of overtime.
After an Andover miss, the ball was loose on the court with two Central Catholic players seemingly easily within reach of the ball. But Caveney flew in from behind, dove outstretched between the two standing Raiders to recover the ball as if she were a football player diving on a fumble. She was then able to get a pass off to set up a Golden Warriors bucket.
"I was just thinking that I had to have that ball," said Caveney, who scored five points in the game. "I knew I had to get it. I felt like it was a big play."
A big play it was, and apparently a confidence booster, because Caveney provided an even better performance in a 60-52 win over Mansfield.
"She may be a better freshman than I was," gushed Boudreau. "She flies under the radar more than you would think, but she has such a great stroke."
It will be difficult for Caveney to fly under the radar after the game she delivered on Tuesday.
"I was so ready and excited and I knew I had to play a good game," said Caveney. "Once I hit my first shot it was a lot easier to keep going. That first shot is so key."
Her first 3-pointer was a sign of things to come for Caveney. By the time the first half had ended she had scored 11 points, and just rolled from there.
In only 19 minutes off the bench, Caveney posted a game-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 4-of-9 from 3-point range.
"It's a lot of pressure sometimes to come off the bench," she said. "I know I need to step it up. I think I did. And I'm thrilled."
The 19 points were a career-high for the freshman. She had scored 18 against Notre Dame of Hingham and 17 in a Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney victory over Methuen. The 5-foot-7 freshman averages 7.9 points a game, and for the season, she has knocked down 48 3-pointers.
"Devon came up huge for us in the first half," said Tildsley. "She was a little nervous, but she provided the spark that we needed.
"She drives the ball pretty well. She's only going to get better. She made a great three-point play there with the right hand. That was unbelievable."
Caveney can now end her perfect tourney with a victory in the state title game.
"I cannot wait for Saturday," she said. "I'm so thrilled and I feel like I stepped up today. I am so pumped because I wanted more than anything to win."
Bill nearly shoeless
BOSTON — Few athletes could imagine a more terrifying moment than Dianna Bill experienced prior to Tuesday's game.
"Before the game I opened my athletic bag and saw that I only had one of my sneakers," said Bill. "I was flipping out. I was in the stands with my best friend crying, 'I can't find my shoes.' My father was running around Boston looking for the nearest sporting good store."
Fortunately for Bill, teammate Courtney McDonald lent her a pair of shoes, and Bill had one of her best performances of the year.
"They were a size too small, but they were stretched out from the season and actually felt really good," said Bill. "I don't know, maybe they were lucky. I might have to wear them in the championship game."
