BOSTON — Andover point guard Natalie Gomez-Martinez stopped to take a moment to ponder the last three seasons.
"Two years ago as a freshman I didn't know what to expect," she said. "I started, but I was clueless. Now, coming in I have a feel for it. I feel like I'm ready."
For the second time in three years, Gomez-Martinez the Golden Warriors will play for a state title, having downed Mansfield in the Division 1 state semifinal 60-52 on Tuesday. That after defeating archrival Central Catholic in overtime on Friday.
"I'm so excited," said Andover sophomore Ally Fazio. "I can't believe we made it this far. I can't believe we made it all the way to the championship game."
The Golden Warriors will face the winner of Wednesday's Division 1 semifinal between East Longmeadow and Shepherd Hill.
Andover has advanced to the state title game four other times in program history, winning the only state hoops title in school history in 2003 and losing the title game in 1998, 2004 and 2008.
"Now we have made it to the finals and that was our goal," said Andover head coach Jim Tildsley. "I know we can play better than how we did (against Mansfield), and hopefully we will."
With Mansfield locking down on star guards Nicole Boudreau (13 points) and Gomez-Martinez (nine points), Andover was forced to look to its role players to come up big in the clutch.
"I trust every player we put on the floor," said Gomez-Martinez. "Devon (Caveney) and Ally both came out and played great games and our two low post players (Alex Alois and Dianna Bill) both just get the job done."
Caveney grabbed the headlines, posting a career-high 19 points. But she was just one of the unsung heros to deliver.
With Andover in search of offense and the lead down to six points, struggling Fazio opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, and added a baseline jumper moments later on the way to her 10 points.
"I was struggling a bit at the beginning of the game," said Fazio. "But my brother (Andover boys point guard D.J.) and my father (Golden Warriors boys coach Dave) were encouraging me from the sidelines. My dad sits as close as he can, and I can hear him out there."
Known more for her low-post defense, forward Bill chipped in six straight points to help lead her squad while her frontcourt mate Alois dominated the glass with a game-high 13 rebounds.
"Coach always tells us the important thing is to fight back," said Alois. "I knew they'd be strong, but you have to keep working hard even when things aren't going well. That's our motto."
Caveney then iced the contest with a pair of free throws with a minute left, clinched the Golden Warriors' trip to the title game.
"I can't wait to go out there," said Gomez-Martinez. "Two years ago we should have won the state title, and this year we can go out and prove we can do it."
OT thriller over Central Catholic
To reach the semifinals, Andover first had to beat Central Catholic. Andover coach Jim Tildsley knew that game could have easily gone in a far different direction.
"We could have packed it in overtime," said Tilsley. "They had all of the momentum."
The Golden Warriors had seen a 33-21 halftime deficit disappear to their archrival when Katie Zenevitch hit a layup and free throw with a second to go in regulation to send their Division 1 North final into overtime. But the Golden Warriors did not surrender, and downed the Raiders 69-65 to advance.
"It was the biggest game I have ever been in," said Nicole Boudreau at the time. "To be at the Garden and beat Central Catholic in overtime was amazing."
Andover, which beat Central three times this season, iced the victory with a pair of free throws for Ally Fazio. Boudreau finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals while Natalie Gomez-Martinez also added 25 points.
"To be here doing this is unbelievable," said Gomez-Martinez. "I was soaking it all in."
Andover 60, Mansfield 52
Division 1 state semifinal
Mansfield (52): Davis 0-1-1, Shannon 1-0-2, Copley 1-0-2, Luchette 1-0-2, Walker 6-2-17, Bowes 1-0-5, Hooper 5-2-14, Campbell 0-3-3, Eason 3-0-6. Totals: 20-8-52
Andover (60): Fazio 3-2-10, Gomez-Martinez 4-0-9, Caveney 6-3-19, Bill 3-0-6, Boudreau 4-3-13, A. Alois 1-1-3, Totals: 21-9-60
3-pointers: M — Walker, Bowes, Hooper 2; A - Caveney 4, Fazio 2, Gomez-Martinez, Boudreau 2
Mansfield (18-7):âÇ9âÇ16âÇ12âÇ15 — 52
Andover (23-3):14âÇ22âÇâÇ7âÇ17 — 60
Andover 69, Central Catholic 65
Division 1 North final
Andover (69): Fazio 3-3-11, Gomez-Martinez 10-4-25, Caveney 2-0-5, Bill 1-1-3, Boudreau 8-6-25, Alois 0-0-0, Drivas 0-0-0. Totals: 24-14-69
Central Catholic (65): Williams 3-0-6, Miller 5-1-11, Polce 5-2-12, Brillaud 4-0-8, Martin 1-0-2, McLaughlin 1-2-4, Zenevitch 7-5-20. Totals: 26-10-65
3-pointers: CC — Polce 2, Zenevitch; A — Fazio 2, Gomez-Martinez, Caveney, Boudreau 3
Andover (23-3):20âÇ13âÇ12âÇ14âÇ10 — 69
Central Catholic (21-3):14âÇâÇ7âÇ20âÇ18âÇâÇ6 — 65
