Stewart’s late basket lifts Kennet girls basketball over Hanover, into D2 title game

BEDFORD – Four quarters wasn’t enough for the Kennett and Hanover high school girls basketball teams in the Division II semifinal.

An extra four minutes was needed and it was a driving layup by Kennett senior Maddie Stewart with 6.3 seconds left that pushed the Eagles past the Marauders 51-50 and into Sunday’s title game.

“We know that they play really good man (defense), and we haven’t really played a team that’s challenged us like that all year so we had been working in practice on ways to get open in situations like this,” Stewart said. “And our freshman Sam (Sidoti) set a perfect screen, and they didn’t know what to do.”

Stewart was spectacular all game. She finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the veteran Eagle squad. She helped keep the team balanced in a tight game in which neither team led by more than six points. There were 12 lead changes in the game as both teams showed why they were among the best in the division.

Hanover got an 18-point game sophomore guard Stella Galanes and eight points each from Jane Lackley and Melissa Whitmore. A 3 from Whitmore with 41 seconds left in overtime, gave the Marauders a one-point lead.

Despite starting four seniors, it was two freshman off the bench that stole the show for the Eagles.

Sidoti had eight points, 10 rebounds and a pair of blocks and held Hanover junior center Jane Lackley in check throughout the game.

“I (told) Sam (Wednesday) I want you to be a problem in the paint for them because I don’t think defensively they’re used to having somebody of her stature in there,” Kennett coach Larry Meader said. “She did a great job of defending the paint because they’re so good at getting the ball inside. Sam helped us offset that a bit.”

Along with Sidoti, Sydney Shaw had 11 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Eagles.

The experienced veterans, who lost to Hanover in the division final two years ago, helped guide the Eagles down the stretch.

“They were in the championship game two years ago,” Meader said. “That experience I think helps the younger kids, and we have a lot of younger kids.”

The win sets up a championship matchup with Bishop Brady on Sunday. The Giants’ frenetic style of play pushed them past Pelham in the first semifinal. Meader said his team will be ready for whatever Bishop Brady throws at them.

“We’ve played them two years in a row now,” Meader said. “We’ve been able to keep up with them. We have a game plan from last year and the year before because we did pretty well against them the last two years. We’ll be ready to go.”