SETTING THE PICK: Brianna Rudolph (12) sets a strong pick against Winthrop’s Nina Bartlette (background) to clear a path for teammate Sharell Sanders.
It’s safe to say this is the most exciting week in the city’s girls basketball history.
The Lynn English High School and St. Mary’s High School girls basketball teams have made it to the sport’s biggest stage – the TD Garden and its famed parquet floor – for the state semifinals.
Coach Fred Hogan’s undefeated Lady Bulldogs were in action Monday against Braintree School in the Division 1 state semifinals. English had advanced with a 52-49 victory over Central Catholic Saturday at the Tsongas Center.
Senior guard Catherine Stinson scored 22 points while senior Diondra Woumn contributed 11 points to the victory for the Northeastern Conference Large champions. Seniors Deidra Newson and Makayla Everette, junior Samantha Holey, and freshman Devinya Robinson also made stellar contributions in the win over Central, the defending Division 1 state champion.
Coach Jeff Newhall’s Lady Spartans (22-2) are making their second trip to the Garden in the past four seasons, having won the Division 3 state title in 2011. The Spartans play Catholic Central League rival Archbishop Williams Tuesday at 2:45 p.m., with a trip to the state finals on the line.
St. Mary’s Big Three of Brianna Rudolph (15 points), Jennie Mucciarone (12 points), and Sharell Sanders (10 points) paced the Spartans past Winthrop, the Northeastern Conference Small champion, in a Tsongas Center thriller. Sophomore Kayla Carter, a first cousin to Philadelphia 76ers Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Carter-Williams, chipped in with six points, while freshman Temitayo Falayi was a standout in low-post defense for the Spartans.