Foxborough's Offense Misfires in Season-Ending Loss to Holliston

Trailing Holliston 32-30 to start the fourth quarter, the Foxborough High School girls’ basketball team needed an offensive surge to keep their season alive.

It didn’t happen.

The Warriors managed four points in the fourth quarter and finished with just 12 in the second half of a 40-34 season-ending loss to the Panthers in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional State Tournament Wednesday.

“The ball would just not fall for us [Wednesday],” said Foxborough head coach Lisa Downs. “I don’t know what our shooting percentage was but it was pretty darn low. We were taking quality shots … they just weren’t falling for us.”

Foxborough strung together an onslaught of quality chances in the final seconds of the third quarter but could not get any of them to fall. Down 32-30, the Warriors lined up a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim but FHS sophomore Katherine Tamulionis grabbed the offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Despite the extra chances, Foxborough could not convert to tie the game before the buzzer.

It was just one of those nights, according to Downs.

“I give Holliston a lot of credit they had done their homework on us,” Downs said. “They were able to shut down the middle so we were relying on our outside shots and some nights they fall and some nights they don’t and [Wednesday] they didn’t.”

Foxborough built an 11-9 lead after the first quarter but Holliston opened the second on a 6-0 run to lead 15-11. Tamulionis put Foxborough back on top with a pair of 3-pointers midway through the quarter but Holliston pulled even late in the frame to head into the break tied at 22.

From there, Foxborough’s offensive struggles started to mount. The Warriors went nearly four minutes without scoring in the third quarter as Holliston built a 28-22 lead. Foxborough got on track late in the quarter, scoring eight points to close the frame but trailed 32-30 heading into the fourth.

“We weren’t getting the offensive boards and we weren’t getting the second opportunities after a missed shot,” Downs said. “We were one-and-done way too often.”

Missed free throws started to add up in the fourth quarter as Foxborough struggled to catch Holliston down the stretch.

“Usually in the fourth quarter we are spot on for our free throws,” Downs said. … “That’s pretty a-typical for us. … We just couldn’t execute quite well enough.”

The dagger in Foxborough’s season came with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter when senior captain Ashley Snyder fouled out after two quick – and questionable – fouls were called against her, giving her five for the game.

“Those two fouls … I’m still wondering where those came from,” Downs said. … “Ashley is a leader on the floor so it was hard when she fouled out. Even when she’s not scoring she’s the player on the floor the girls look to.”

Snyder finished with nine points in her last career game as Warrior. Tamulionis was the only Warrior to reach double figures in scoring (11 points).

Ally Perry netted five, Andrea Marcotte three and Danielle Roma, Brooke Buckner and Jamie Ballou two apiece.

Holliston was led by Kylie Lorenzen with 14 points and Catherine Tehan added 11.

Foxborough’s season may have ended Wednesday but Downs said the result is not indicative of what this group of girls accomplished.

“[Coaching this team] has meant everything,” Downs said. “They were all over my house last night for dinner. I’m so proud of their accomplishments this year. I wanted to remind them of everything they’ve accomplished. I told them they can’t hang their heads and it has been a privilege to coach these girls.”

After enduring a 3-16 season in her first year as Foxborough’s head coach, Downs’ Warriors earned their coach her first postseason berth and end the year with a 15-6 record. So what’s next?

“Maybe [go] a couple of games beyond this one next year,” she said.

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