The Hopedale girls advanced to the state final with a gritty 45-41 semifinal win over Douglas on a night when defense and late poise mattered most. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Douglas holding a 22-21 lead at halftime before Hopedale tightened defensively and took control in the second half.
Senior Anna Fafard led the way with 19 points, including two timely three-pointers that helped flip momentum and keep Hopedale in front in crunch time. Phoebe Carroll added 14 points and battled inside for rebounds and second-chance opportunities that extended possessions and wore down Douglas. Role players contributed quality minutes, and sophomore Layla Huntley did the dirty work on the glass and on defense to preserve possessions late.
Hopedale will await the winner of the Drury and Saint John Paul II tilt to learn its opponent for the state final. Either opponent will pose a major challenge, and Hopedale’s best path will be another big night from Fafard and continued complementary scoring from Carroll, plus dependable defense and rebounding across the roster. The team will use the upcoming prep time to sharpen late-game sets and special defensive assignments before the championship game.
