Photo Gallery: Lynnfield Girls Lose in First Round

After an impressive turnaround season for the Lynnfield High girls basketball team, the Pioneers' hopes for a championship ended early on Tuesday night with a 54-49 loss to seventh-seeded Triton in the first round of the Div. 3 North sectional held at Salem State Universtiy.  

The 10th-seeded Pioneers made the tournament after winning their final game of the season with a one-point win over North Reading to finish 10-10 overall. That's just one year removed from a disappointing four-win season in 2009-2010. 

"Yes it was (a tough loss) but I'm happy with the season," said head coach Pamela MacDonald. "The girls worked hard all year and it showed. They worked to their full potential and surpassed everyone's expectations which is all you can hope for as a coach. The coaching staff is very proud of all of the girls."

Brittany Hunt led Lynnfield with 15 points while Jillian Fama had 11 and Kelsey LeBlanc had a double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds. Kelsey Mancini finished with eight points and 12 rebounds.

"(Kelsey LeBlanc) has really stepped up her game the last third of the season and really helped us get to the tourney," said MacDonald. "We are thrilled she will be back and are looking to her to lead us next year."

Lynnfield will be losing two of its top scorers in Hunt and Mancini for next season, but will have a lot of returning talent to make another run at a state championship.