John Bapst High School senior guard Claire Gaetani had never played in a Class B North quarterfinal. But she finally got her chance on Friday after scoring 30 points in a preliminary round win over Washington Academy of East Machias, which enabled her and her Crusader teammates to play a quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center.
Gaetani will now get to play in a semifinal after the Bates College-bound standout poured in a game-high 35 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made six steals to lead the sixth-seeded Crusaders to a 59-56 victory over third seeded defending regional champion Old Town.
John Bapst, now 12-8, will take on the winner of the Erskine Academy vs. Hermon game on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
John Bapst and Old Town had split regular season games.
“This means everything to me,” said the 17-year-old Gaetani. “I mean four years of high school basketball and not playing here (for a quarterfinal) until my senior year. It’s really special.”
John Bapst forward Sophia Ward, the only other senior on the roster, called Gaetani’s performance “insane.”
“She really moves our offense, “said Ward. “I’m so happy for her.”
Gaetani said she had a good feeling before the game that she would play well.
“I was a little nervous. I have never played in the tournament. But it didn’t matter,” said Gaetani, who has scored 97 points in her last three games at the Cross Insurance Center, the home court of the Crusaders.
The Crusaders took the lead for good with a 12-6 run to close out the third period.
Gaetani had a pair of threes and a traditional 3-point play and fed Anna Smith for a three.
Old Town used a 9-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters behind Karina Dumond’s four points and a Taylor Loring three to pull within two.
But Ward answered with a jumper from the corner and Gaetani converted a Stella Goetz pass into a layup to make it 54-48.
Junior guard Loring brought the Coyotes back within two with all eight points in an 8-4 run that made it 58-56 with 32.4 seconds left.
Gaetani had both baskets for John Bapst to keep the Crusaders ahead.
Old Town had to foul and Gaetani hit a free throw with 18.8 seconds left to expand the lead to three.
Old Town was unable to tie it.
Gaetani had 19 first-half points as the Crusaders took a 36-33 lead into the intermission.
John Bapst jumped out to a 15-6 lead behind Gaetani’s eight points but, following a time-out called by Old Town coach Heather Richards, the Coyotes responded with a 14-2 run to take a 20-17 lead after the first period.
Anna Smith complemented Gaetani with 11 points and six rebounds for Bapst. Goetz had five points. Ward added four points and three assists.
Loring finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for Old Town, which wound up 12-7.
She also had three assists.
Dumond had 14 points and nine rebounds and Taylor Madden had 13 points and five rebounds. Elizabeth Magoon added 11 points and three steals.