Fairfield Leads Lenox Back to Western Mass Final

LENOX, Mass. – For the third straight season, the Lenox girls basketball team is headed to a Western Massachusetts Championship Game.

 

This time, they do so with an undefeated record.

 

Jocelyn Fairfield had a double-double, and the Millionaires used a 9-2 third-quarter run to open up a one-score game as they beat Lee, 50-38, in the Western Mass Class C semi-finals on Thursday night.

 

It was the third meeting of the season between the South County rivals. Fairfield said this one felt a little different.

 

“It was just more competitive, because we both knew this was our last chance, especially for us seniors to make it to the Western Mass finals,” she said. “So everyone was giving it their all.”

 

Lenox coach Nicole Patella also picked up on the change in her team, especially for seniors Fairfield and Kelsey Kirchner (five points, eight rebounds, two assists).

 

Fairfield finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot.

 

“She’s a senior, and she’s just had a different kind of focus the last couple of weeks,” Patella said. “Wanting to get to this next game has been a goal of hers, and now she’s going to try and go finish the job.

 

“Her focus has just been tremendous, and it’s really gone down to the rest of the girls. They see that. Last year, we didn’t have seniors. And it’s a whole different mentality. She’s just our leader out there.”

 

Lenox (20-0) will head to Holyoke Community College on Saturday afternoon to take on Renaissance in a rematch of the 2024 Class C final.

 

Early on Thursday, it looked like Lenox was going to deliver a knockout blow in the first half with its 3-point shooting.

 

The Millionaires used four triples to mount a 12-3 run that spanned the first and second quarters and ended when Claire O’Brien connected from behind the arc with an assist from Kirchner to make it 20-10 with 3:30 left in the half.

 

But Lee coach Rick Puleri took a timeout, and his team responded, scoring six straight to get the margin down to four points.

 

First, Giana Carlino (game-high 19 points) scored on a baseline inbounds play. Then she hit from the lane. Finally, Mia Puleri (12 points) drove down the middle of the lane and scored to make it 20-16.

 

It was a six-point margin at half-time after Lenox made five 3-pointers in the first 16 minutes.

 

In the second half, Lee changed up its defense to take away some of those open looks from outside, but Lenox countered by pounding the interior,

 

“When they went man, we had to get to the basket,” Patella said. “That’s when we find our kickouts”

 

Lee got within three points when Jenna Simone drove the right wing and scored to make it 24-21.

 

Lenox answered with a 9-2 spurt to grab a double-digit lead.

 

First, Fairfield drew a foul in the post and made two free throws. Then Grace Julieano (12 points) did the same. Fairfield again got to the line and made one shot to make it 29-21.

 

After a Carlino bucket at the other end, Fairfield drove the wing for two, and Chloe Parsenios (nine points) scored a layup off a turnover to give Lenox a 33-23 lead in the final minute of the third quarter.

 

Lee never got closer than six points the rest of the way. Julieano scored eight points in the paint in the fourth quarter to help Lenox maintain a working margin.

 

Lee (13-7) saw a five-game winning streak snapped but now moves on to start getting ready for the Division 5 State Tournament. Seedings and brackets are scheduled to be released on Saturday.

 

Lenox, meanwhile, figures to have a tough test on its hands against Renaissance, a 56-45 winner when the teams met at Holyoke Community College a year ago. On Thursday night, the Phoenix beat Drury, 65-45, to get back to the final.

 

“It’s gonna be a tough game, but we’re gonna be ready,” Patella said. “There’s a lot of sting in our girls with that one. … They’re on a mission, and we’re going to do our best.

 

“We just have to mentally be tough. They try to rattle you. They try to speed you up. They try to get you uncomfortable. And we have to play our game. Jocelyn has got to keep being Jocelyn, and Kelsey has to be a beast, and it’s got to be team ball. Everyone’s got to touch the ball. Everyone’s got to score.

 

“I know they’re a tough team. But we have to believe we can do it.”