Swampscott Girls Win North Shore Basketball Championship

This article was submitted by Phil Sloan.

The Swampscott eighth-grade girls’ basketball team entered this past weekend with their backs against the wall but won all three of their remaining playoff games on three consecutive nights to capture the North Shore Girls’ Basketball League championship. 

Swampscott faced a tough, physical Masco girls’ basketball team at Salem State University on Friday night, March 16.  Each team entered the game with one loss in the playoffs, so both teams faced elimination. Coach John Gambale’s strategy of instituting a controlled, disciplined “41” offense, held Masco to under 10 points in the entire game.

Olivia Cooke stepped up to provide much of the offense against Masco, making a few, quick jump shots to start the game, providing Swampscott with the early lead.  Cooke, Meghan Hartmann and Jessica Gambale then went into a “41” weave, denying Masco the ball, visibly frustrating them throughout the game.  

Starters Emma Wright and Christina King fought valiantly under the boards to snare rebounds, however, it was the Swampscott bench, led by Sydney Goldman and Bailey Shorr, which was able to thwart Masco’s players inside the paint.  It was the second time during these playoffs that Swampscott had defeated Masco, an accomplishment which seemed to instill in them the confidence to take on their next opponent, Gloucester.    

Following Gloucester’s win against Swampscott the previous Sunday, the prospect of beating this talented, disciplined team of players appeared daunting, even to the staunchest of Swampscott fans.  Coach Gambale’s “41” offense proved to be highly effective once again, however, as this time, Gloucester was unable to control the tempo of the game.

Meghan Hartmann celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by slashing her way through the Gloucester defense for 13 points in this much anticipated rematch held on Saturday, March 17.  Swampscott completely shut down Gloucester’s potent offense, as Gambale and Cooke consistently stole the ball, Wright and King dominated the defensive boards, and Bailey Shorr, Sydney Goldman, Emily Guo and Olivia Capone all contributed with valuable minutes and key plays.  A loose ball never hit the floor with one or more of them diving for it, resulting in several key changes in possession. 

Having avenged their earlier loss against Gloucester with this win, Swampscott faced the top seed in the tournament once again in the finals, held on Sunday, March 18, at the Veterans’ School in Marblehead.  This time, Coach Gambale shifted his offensive strategy to set multiple picks for Meghan Hartmann at the point of attack so that she could demonstrate her scoring power. 

Hartmann responded with a season-high 22 points, leading Swampscott to victory.  Just as crucial to the outcome of the game, however, was the emergence of forward Emma Wright as a dominant rebounder on both sides of the court.  Christina King similarly asserted her presence underneath, taking her own physical style of play to the next level. Jesse Gambale, Olivia Cooke, and Ali Sloan also demonstrated their grit and determination, refusing to be denied this championship title.  

Sydney Goldman and Bailey Shorr each snared rebounds and loose balls at key moments throughout the game to maintain the Swampscott lead, however, it was Emily Guo’s jump shot in the second half which seemed to seal the victory.  

All three of these players have developed significantly under Coaches Gambale and P.K. Cooke over the course of the entire season, providing Swampscott with invaluable contributions off the bench.  Olivia Capone and Ali Sloan have both each also contributed to this championship season, both demonstrating that passion can overcome size, even in basketball.      

Celebrating this 2012 North Shore Girls’ Basketball League championship following the game, Coach John Gambale, who is also director and head coach of the New England Storm, the Swampscott-based Junior Olympic softball program, sat with his wife, Eve Gambale, who this Spring will coach both youth soccer and youth lacrosse in Swampscott.

As John reviewed the development of each of the girls on his basketball team, Eve compared soccer defensive formations with her daughter, Lisa.

It is because of devoted volunteers such as the Gambale family that Swampscott youth sports plays such a vital role in the lives of so many fortunate children in our local area.