Girls Basketball Wins to Reach North Final

The Westford Academy girls basketball team held on. Now they're moving on.

After leading early, the Grey Ghosts fought off a Billerica charge in the North Division 1 semifinal on Thursday night. Thanks to a 53-49 win, Westford Academy will play on Saturday in the bracket final.

“In the first game against Billerica we missed some big free throws so it is kind of nice to come full circle, hit some key free throws and win it,” Westford Academy head coach Russ Coward told ESPNBoston.com following the victory.

Junior forward Sam Hyslip led the charge for the Lady Grey Ghosts. She poured home 20 points and snagged 18 rebounds in the victory.

Billerica handed Westford Academy one of its four losses during the regular season, a 57-53 decision on January 17. The Grey Ghosts haven't lost since, as they are riding a 14-game win streak as the tournament's No. 3 seed.

Coward's charges hope to add another notch to their streak as they take on fifth-seeded Central Catholic in the North Division 1 final. The game is slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday on the hardwood of Lowell's Tsongas Center.

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