That was the Braintree High baseball team's rallying cry Friday including a solo home run by Luke Joyce and a pair of run-scoring doubles by Owen Donnelly in a 10-6 win over Bay State Conference rival Milton fifth and sixth innings to push its season record to 8-3 "We didn't remember the last time we were shut out," Braintree coach Bill O'Connell said The bats came alive today up and down the lineup." "Wednesday was a tough game; we didn't play our game," added Donnelly Donnelly followed up Joyce's solo blast in the second with a two-run double down the left-field line "I like to use the whole field," Donnelly said More: Keefe powers B-R to win: South Shore high school sports top performers for April 28-May 3 "He's been battling all year," O'Connell added He probably would have started for a lot of other programs as a sophomore but he waited his turn and he's having a great year." The Wamps' lineup was littered with hitting stars who was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI in his first game back after missing four due to injury "He's the heart and soul of this team," O'Connell said Number 3 hitter Sean Canavan drew three walks and scored a run and cleanup batter Matt Rogers was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI "We didn't have timely hitting (against Natick) More: Walk-offs and gems: Vote for the South Shore High School Baseball Player of the Week With their top three starting pitchers (DeRoche King) all unavailable in the third game of the week Teddy Kelly worked three scoreless innings before Braintree had to burn through three pitchers in Milton's four-run fourth inning and he wound up finishing the job by working the final 3⅓ innings Milton star Scott Longo swatted a two-run homer in the sixth to shave the Wildcats' deficit to 8-6 but Grieve's two-run single in the bottom of the inning restored the cushion for Rogers "We were just looking for a guy to settle us down and we finally found it in Matt," O'Connell said "We knew we'd be in a little bit of trouble here today with a bullpen day I can't say enough about Matt for really bailing us out and putting the team on his shoulders." shut the door with three pretty good innings," Donnelly added We needed someone to step up and he did it." Rogers' relief effort ― and Braintree's offensive explosion ― both were well timed since Milton's offense has gotten revved up lately The Wildcats (5-7) struggled out of the starting gate this spring getting shut out twice in their first four games and mustering only seven runs through their first five they've scored 38 runs over the past five games "It's heating up finally," Milton coach Greg Lannon said "I think our biggest thing is that we always battle We've been down each of the past few games and come back to tie the game We're just missing that one timely hit here and there But I think we're starting to turn the corner a little bit here." drawing three walks (one of which forced in a run) and then homering Harry Hinckle and Teddy Dunn added RBI singles for Milton and Nick Antoniewicz also drew a bases-loaded walk Milton will try to get right on Monday against Framingham Braintree has another busy week ahead with Brookline (Monday) Wellesley (Wednesday) and Hingham (Friday) The Wamps look like they've picked up where they left off last spring when they finished 19-4 and made the Division 1 quarterfinals as a No "We feel this year and next year are really some promising years," O'Connell said "We're going to have seven returning starters next year and our whole pitching staff will be returning We've got a lot of experienced juniors and sophomores It's great to have eight wins at this point going forward We feel like we've got things back on track (after an 11-11 finish in 2023) A portion of the Marketplace at Braintree, including where an Amazon Fresh grocery store was slated to go Waterstone Properties Group announced the acquisition Tuesday The slice of the Grossman Drive plaza that the Needham-based real estate development company now owns includes the Nordstrom Rack Ulta Beauty and the 37,500-square-foot space between the two Amazon Fresh grocery store was first pitched to the town in April 2021 (Though Amazon Fresh did open more stores elsewhere late in 2024.) Waterstone said in a press releasese that the site would include a “‘to be announced’ national grocer concept.” The grocer will be announced “as soon as able,” said Waterstone’s marketing director Andy Gendron More: Amazon Fresh has been planning a grocery store in Braintree. Are plans getting stale? Amazon Fresh stores use “Just Walk Out” technology where customers enter a form of payment at the store entrance and are automatically charged when they exit with their items Amazon Fresh has locations in a handful of states The Patriot Ledger reached out to Amazon for comment The acquisition from Seritage Growth Properties also includes a 6,000-square-foot outparcel that the company plans to develop Waterstone owns six commercial properties across Massachusetts Here is the square footage of some other South Shore stories to give you a reference for how big the 37,500 square foot space is in Braintree that Waterstone says will become a grocery store More: What will 2025 bring? South Shore development to watch out for Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com two-bathroom home with a two-car garage and historic charm is coming soon to the Braintree rental market But there’s a caveat: interested parties must be comfortable with strangers touring a part of the home a handful of times per year The Braintree Historical Society will be seeking a new tenant to rent the Asa French House on Washington Street as early as this summer A section of the home served as the town’s first post office in 1825 The all-volunteer society hopes to get a market rate of at least $3,500 a month But before deciding to continue renting the French House the society’s board considered selling the property or when the expenses are greater than the income While the cash on hand was on an upward trend it has been steadily decreasing since 2020 “The society is a not-for-profit business,” said Thomas Kent “If you’re coming at it from a purely business sense we made the decision to maintain it and hopefully the rent will offset the operating expenses.” And the society needs money to pay for them countertops and flooring along with bathroom and electrical work doing as much of the work as possible as volunteers before turning the French House over to a property manager which has just under $3,000 in contributions we’re still going to need more,” added Alan Flowers Kent said the rent from the French House would “help a little bit,” hopefully going toward expenses like insurance utilities and maintenance of the older properties But he hopes that the society will become more financially independent Several board meetings are focused on finances in addition to the society’s mission of telling Braintree’s history “I think it’s fair to say we have to be very cognizant of our cash flows,” Kent said “If we weren’t as focused on financial stuff we’d have more time for the stuff that the society is about The society has only rented out the French House for residential use The barn and Thayer house pavilion can be rented for events the society is still considering whether to rent or sell the Gallivan House That annual rental income is equal to between $1,725 per month and $2,560 per month the Braintree Historical Society last year received $157,000 more than half of which came from contributions the society had received between $18,000 and $27,000 annually from the town of Braintree listed as a “reimbursement” item in the economic development section of the budget but we understand that happens,” Flowers said adding that the society shares a good relationship with Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce “We’ve been in talks with her and her staff on what can be done and how it can be done.” which overlooks the French House and other historical society properties Joyce said the town needs to partner with the society to help it become more sustainable “I think we need to be mindful of how we spend tax dollars to support certain missions We really can’t afford to just send money over there if we can’t have a sense for what that’s supporting,” she said but we also can’t run the historical society.” Other historical societies also face lower incomes the Braintree Historical Society isn’t necessarily alone in facing imbalanced incomes and expenses The Patriot Ledger analyzed Form 990s from six South Shore historical societies: Braintree These forms show information like revenues assets and liabilities that nonprofits must report to the IRS These six historical societies have different situations including the number of physical assets that must be maintained or the financial boost of an endowment Each society reported a negative net income at least once in the past five years the society spent a little less than half of its $231,488 in expenses last year on repairs and maintenance a non-cash expense valued at around just under $50,000 While the non-interest-building cash on hand had hovered above $100,000 for about seven years Kent acknowledged that with the COVID-19 pandemic it has taken a bit for the society to regroup and refocus “We’re threading the needle between accounting losses and operating income and cash flow,” Kent said The society is working on its fundraising efforts and increasing its membership it added two Braintree High School students to the board to reach different demographics and suggest fresh ideas (one of them being the use of GoFundMe Kent was optimistic about the society’s future “I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said The 3,500-square-foot home at 766 Washington St became “part of the heart and the center of Braintree,” Flowers said It was built by English colonists John and Grace French as a good portion of the structure was rebuilt in 1820 The home was donated to the Thayer Academy after it had been purchased by a French family cousin The academy gave the home to the society in 1999 after which it underwent “extensive renovations” and had a new HVAC system installed in 2010 The portion of the home the society believes to be the post office gets plenty of natural light and boasts an entire wall dedicated to built-in shelves but must be mindful that the society will bring the public in that room for tours Throughout the home are wide “King’s lumber” floorboards one bathroom on each floor and two sets of stairs is adorned with floral wallpaper and matching sage green paint The middle of the home has a red room with a large brick fireplace and was used primarily as a cooking space Whoever rents the home won’t be able to paint or use any fireplaces the entryway isn’t heated (but it’s something the society is looking into addressing) But it’s a rare opportunity to live in a piece of Braintree history When one fried-chicken door closes That seems to be the case for the latest development in the redevelopment of the former Motel 6 in Braintree is still set to have a standalone fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru with a second building to contain two fast-casual restaurants two retail spaces and a bank with a drive-thru Brookline Bank has also signed a letter of intent to open a branch there The remaining proposed spaces have yet to be leased “The result will be a complete transformation of the blight that’s existed for far too long,” Marinelli said The planning board will hear the request to change the previously approved project on Tuesday A fast-casual chain known for its smash-style burgers and their own sauce is planned for Braintree according to the representative of the developer Moreover, this location could be a drive-thru. Attorney Frank Marinelli said the restaurant intends to use the 150-seat, 4,251-square-foot standalone restaurant space with a dedicated lane that is planned for the eastern part of the property The Braintree planning board on Tuesday unanimously approved developer Torrington Properties' request to redesign previously green-lit plans that included a Chick-fil-A The closest existing Shake Shack locations to Braintree are in Hingham and Dedham This is the second restaurant chain to sign onto the reimagined project after CAVA which offers fast-casual Mediterranean fare Brookline Bank has also signed a letter of intent for a drive-thru location here What else is planned for the former Motel 6 site in Braintree?The project has three more spaces available: one for fast food and two for retail Marinelli said the developer is exploring prospective tenants like “veterinary and other types of uses.” A Torrington representative estimated that construction would be completed by mid-November to allow tenants to make modifications tacking on an additional four months for that work to be finished This puts a Shake Shack opening at mid-March 2026 What about the traffic concerns at the failed Chick-fil-A site?The new plan expects to generate 2,240 fewer vehicle trips on a weekday and 1,502 fewer vehicle trips on Saturday compared to the original Chick-fil-A proposal The trip generation calculation only went up on weekday morning peak hour by 111 trips Torrington will be required to coordinate with Braintree police on a grand opening traffic plan if traffic becomes a “public nuisance,” the developer will be required to reduce hours or limit drive-thru capacity or offerings The developer is also building out the sidewalk around the property to encourage pedestrian use particularly from the Braintree MBTA station We have unknown entities coming in,” said planning board clerk Darryl Mikami it’s important that we plan for the worst case.” This decision comes as the town’s school district faces a more than $783,000 budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year mounting costly building maintenance needs and an unequal distribution of students in its elementary schools “This whole discussion that either you close Ross or you lose Math Lab that's not the way you want to approach something,” school committee member Joseph Fogarty said during the March 17 meeting “Those are significant changes to the landscape of the town I don’t know that we have enough information to make those decisions.” This pause will be in place for at least the next year as officials evaluate the district’s existing resources consider the potential boost in both tax revenues and school population with residential projects in the pipeline and decide where the district wants to head the district has identified about $97.8 million in capital investments needed to shore up its existing school buildings What Braintree schools were considered for closingAfter hiring a redistricting consultant, school committee members had been considering three options to decide by the end of March: Two of these options didn’t realize any savings for the district Braintree Public Schools has not redistricted in 20 years leading to inequitable classroom sizes and building enrollment Liberty Elementary has the largest class sizes with a 99% capacity while Ross Elementary has the lowest capacity at 64% School committee members did not agree on which of these options were best but did unanimously vote to move forward with a master plan Are Braintree schools safe from closing?But the school closure discussion is not over I believe that we do need more time as a community to talk about this openly I believe we need to consolidate our footprint,” she said “We need a plan because six elementary schools two middle schools and one high school is not going to be a footprint that we’re going to be able to carry with us Joyce reemphasized that the $8-million permanent tax hike that voters approved last June was “a huge saving grace for the community but it wasn’t going to be the end.” She added that the town is committed to keep programing in schools for at least the next year would include repurposing one of the to-be-closed elementary schools with programs from the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club including the hiring of a new economic development manager and a new superintendent Hollis Elementary principal Tim MacDonald was hired to take over for Jim Lee as the leader of Braintree Public Schools “Development income is key to unlocking the resources Braintree needs within our schools,” member Kathleen Tuffy said “Braintree needs that revenue or it will continue to cut school programs and town services.” Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com But it ended up A-OK for the Wamps in the end finishing the game with a clutch fourth quarter to give Braintree a narrow 43-40 win over Woburn Friday night at home The senior had a team-high 17 points to send Braintree to it's first Final Four since 2019 1 Wachusett (22-1) in the state semifinals (date After putting up five points in the opening quarter Spadorcia found herself with three fouls before halftime she had to sit on the bench to start the third quarter "She was not happy that she wasn't starting in the third quarter that's what you want in your senior captain," head coach Kelley Macdonald said "You're supposed to be upset when you don't get to play." More: 'They owned this moment': North Quincy girls basketball tops Archies for Elite Eight berth When she came back into the game later in the third Spadorcia turned her frustration into productivity on the court putting in a layup for the Wamps with under 10 seconds to go in the frame to give her team a four-point advantage heading into the fourth Spadorcia had to climb her way steadily to the top of the depth chart for Braintree over the course of her high school career she didn't make the junior varsity team and instead played on the freshman team followed up by an even bigger one this season she was named the Bay State Conference Herbert Division MVP after Braintree went undefeated in league play Spadorcia was determined to get on the court for the varsity team after her freshman season I wasn't that good of a player," Spadorcia said I noticed that if players didn't make it their sophomore year In the fourth quarter of Friday's quarterfinal contest Spadorcia got four early points to help Braintree extend it's lead to nine and made key free throws down the stretch to keep the Wamps in front she's such a good role model," said sophomore starter Eva Downing More: South Shore scoreboard: MIAA state tournament scores and schedules As a sophomore just joining the varsity squad Downing caught fire in the first quarter against Woburn "I don't think anyone doubts that they're (Downing's shots) going to go in A lot of the sophomores on our team don't even play like underclassmen I know that I wasn't as confident as a sophomore and I'm so glad that they are." A boost in confidence for Spadorcia coincided with joining the Braintree volleyball team as her fall sport Head volleyball coach Kaileen Spaulding had recruited Spadorcia to join the team for five months before she decided to give it a try Playing the sport helped Spadorcia work on her vertical which has translated to the basketball court with rebounding and finishing baskets in the paint Spadorcia was named a league MVP in volleyball With two MVP awards in two different sports and an MIAA Div there is of course still room to bring home a state championship banner she is just happy to have had a strong second half to help her team advance to the semifinals "It felt awesome," Spadorcia said with a smile Owen Kelly and his teammates saw it coming years ago The Braintree High boys basketball team has returned to the Division 1 MIAA state tournament picture and its 11 seniors are making the most of their last hurrah together ‘No one’s going to private schools or anything,’" Kelly said let’s stay because we can make something special with the basketball team when we’re older.” The Wamps (11-3) exceeded last year's win total on Tuesday with a 58-43 triumph at home over Wellesley and have five games left to play until postseason seeding is determined and was ousted in the opening round of the state tournament by No Braintree finished 6-14 and missed the cut altogether 11 wins is the program's most since the 2018 season (12-9) have nine of the 11 seniors play meaningful roles on the varsity team last season but they've since returned as battle-tested upperclassmen ready to contend “I’ve had probably 10 of them since about third grade in travel (ball) and all of the way up and my son (Cam) is part of the group," said Crook who secured his 400th career win two years ago It’s a fun group to coach in that way; I don’t really have to get on them that much More: Where are South Shore high school hockey and basketball teams in MIAA tournament rankings? the workload has been evenly distributed among the entire cast -- Kelly defensive-minded point guard Dylan Fernandes; interior presences Josh Hankinson Jared Coughlin and Omar Ghneim; and shooting wings Ethan Elie Teddy Phillips and Pat Roche fill out the senior class we knew that this year was going to be a good year for this program," Kelly said Squeaking into the postseason last season was a turning point to advance but Crook said the experience has readied his team for another run at it They played a little bit better on defense We didn’t turn it over like we did earlier in the game.” Ahead lies the seniors' chance to clinch the program's first postseason win since 2017 “It’s definitely pretty special," Kelly said I’ve been playing with these boys for a while.” Cam: “It’s the thrill of my lifetime to be able to coach him Kelly on making the playoffs last year: “It was a different atmosphere There were past years when we were in high school that they never sniffed the playoffs Crook on coaching this year's team: “It’s a lot of fun to come near the end of my coaching career here with this group Then an ember flew off the house and ignited his 2014 Cadillac which was also ruined in the blaze on Saturday The few articles of clothing he salvaged from the ruined house reek too strongly of smoke to wear "I put them through the wash seven times," he said "The Red Cross gave me special laundry detergent Now the Almeidas are staying in a hotel room trying to pull their lives back together they don't have much in the way of insurance Little more than $1,000 combined from the landlord and the Red Cross was all the assistance they received in the wake of the disaster The town of Braintree and Mayor Erin Joyce also chipped in a to help Neal Jr He's employed by the highway division of the department of public works Then Neal Jr.'s lifelong friend John McKenna stepped in to help, covering some expenses and setting up a GoFundMe page to turn sympathy into much needed relief for the Almeidas the fundraiser has raised over $5,000 of its $18,000 goal said he hopes to move into a new apartment and find senior housing for his 71-year-old father He had recently moved back into the house after a few years living apart in order to help Neal Sr Scary fire in the walls of Quincy house: Residents didn't at first know of the blaze father and son were just sitting down to an early dinner when Neal Jr He went to investigate and saw a small flame on the deck Neal said he carried a pot of water outside to douse the flames led him through the house and out the front door Then the propane tanks for their grill exploded flames covered the house in a matter of seconds "There was a wicked wind coming off the lake," Neal Jr McKenna said the cause remains undetermined though a battery pack or a neighbor's cigarette could have sparked the fire Acting Braintree Fire Chief Freddie Viola said the fire was likely accidental and "nothing was out of the ordinary," though the cause remains undetermined A report by the Fire Marshal's Office has not yet been completed the house and all its contents were destroyed Neal said the fire chief brought him inside after the blaze where he was lucky to find his wallet "At least I have that going for me," he said pictures and mementos accumulated over 37 years are gone trying to finding affordable accommodations for his aging father and himself He said he'll return to work for the town next week Thanks to our subscribers, who make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com Thomas More Church demolished to make way for age-restricted housing12 PHOTOSThe former St Thomas More Church and School in Braintree are being redeveloped for housing by George Clements Thomas More Church and School in Braintree are being redeveloped for age-restricted condominium project Thomas More Church on Hawthorn Road in Braintree Thomas More Church in Braintree gather to say goodbye to their house of worship on Monday Thomas More Church in Braintree gather to say goodbye to their church on Monday Thomas More in Braintree only acted as a school for the church until 1970 Thomas More Church in Braintree gather to say goodbye Monday (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) BRAINTREE – The TGI Fridays in Braintree closed for good Monday leaving only five locations left in the state for the once-thriving national chain The restaurant is located across from South Shore Plaza North Attleboro and Seekonk closed soon after as did dozens of others in a total of 12 states The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November which led to a second wave of closures that month After the most recent string of closures in New Jersey prior to Braintree being added to the closed ledger Jan An email sent to the company seeking comment was not returned The five remaining Massachusetts TGI Fridays' locations are: Uno Mas on Commercial Street in Braintree on Thursday The bar at Uno Mas in Braintree features a selection of designer tequila on Thursday Uno Mas chef Andrea Rechtiene holds her elote bowl at the Braintree restaurant on Thursday The "Skinny Beach" at Uno Mas in Braintree features jalapeno-infused tequila A variety of dishes and drinks fresh from Uno Mas in Braintree on Thursday Uno Mas on Commercial Street in Braintree features many Mexican-themed murals and artwork Thursday Uno Mas owner Evan Harrington talks about the taco and tequila bar in Braintree on Thursday The "Passion of the Spiced" at Uno Mas in Braintree features ghost reposado spicy tequila passionfruit liqueur and vanilla agave on Thursday sliced avocado on corn tortillas from Uno Mas in Braintree on Thursday The School Night Tacos at Uno Mas in Braintree feature ground beef cheddar cheese and pico de gallo in a crunchy taco shell on Thursday The "Skinny Beach," featuring jalapeno-infused tequila lime and soda; and the "Passion of the Spiced," featuring ghost reposado spicy tequila passionfruit liqueur and vanilla agave at Uno Mas in Braintree on Thursday The smoked Texas brisket burrito made with 14-hour chopped brisket pico de gallo and fermented chili hot sauce from Uno Mas in Braintree on Thursday Despite losing Chick-fil-A Boston-based Torrington Properties is forging ahead with new plans to redevelop the former Motel 6 site in Braintree The developer is proposing more retail space and another restaurant at 125 Union St. compared to what was approved in December 2023 the town announced that Chick-fil-A would no longer exercise its right to occupy the site The chain confirmed the decision but did not provide an explanation Brookline Bank recently announced plans to merge with Berkshire Bank Now, Torrington Properties is asking the zoning board for changes According to plans submitted to the town in November the standalone fast-food restaurant on the eastern portion of the property would shrink to 3,120 square feet On the west side of the property would be an 11,400-square-foot building with three retail spaces a restaurant with outdoor patio seating and a bank with a drive-thru lane Eighty-three parking spaces would serve the site Torrington Properties requested a continuance for the December zoning board meeting and is currently set to go before the board Jan No details on potential tenants were provided by the developer's attorney the developer may request another zoning board continuance to February to redesign for that tenant The town of Braintree and its planning director have parted ways Melissa SantucciRozzi, who served as the town’s planning and community development director since 2021 would only say that SantucciRozzi was “separating from the town” and that it was a “mutual decision.” She would not say whether SantucciRozzi was terminated or leaving on her own accord but said that the mayor is "evaluating the team in place" and will "make changes she sees fit." SantucciRozzi received a bachelor’s degree in regional planning from Westfield State University in 1998 and got started in her planning career in Burlington She was Braintree’s principal planner and assistant planning director for 17 years and became the interim director when former Mayor Charles Kokoros had fired the prior director in December 2020 SantucciRozzi was then officially promoted to the job SantucciRozzi has sat on the Watertown zoning board since 2003 Joyce extended gratitude and well wishes to SantucciRozzi “It’s not only important that we support the businesses that are already in Braintree but we need to also seek out those who have not yet realized how great of a place it is to be,” Joyce said in the news release The town is seeking a candidate who “shares the mayor’s vision for sustainable growth and economic development” as well as a “leader who can collaborate effectively with the business community and local stakeholders in the realm of planning,” the news release noted BRAINTREE — Francesca Spadorcia made the game-saving block Francesca Mazzini iced it with a layup in overtime Both Braintree High girls basketball players go by Frankie for short they've managed to figure out who's who when addressed on the court “She’s Spazz," Mazzini said of Spadorcia with a laugh The duo combined for 28 points in the Wamps' 50-45 overtime victory over Quincy on Thursday to extend the team's seven-game winning streak who finished with a season-high seven blocks rejected the Presidents' potential go-ahead layup in the final seconds of regulation The Wamps (11-1) two years ago missed the postseason altogether 3 team in the MIAA's Division 1 power rankings “I feel like it hasn’t even settled in my brain that we’re No Last year's team (11-11) made its first stride back to contention as the No 15 seed in the Division 1 postseason picture and ended the season with a 45-31 loss to No More: South Shore high school football standout gets a college offer from UNC's Bill Belichick Braintree was up, 19-18, at halftime in the season finale That was just the second time all season Wachusett which entered that game undefeated and finished 24-1 as the Division 1 finalist trailed at the half: “I feel like we just wanted it more in that moment," Spadorcia said That was the precursor of this year's rise totally," said second-year head coach Kelley Macdonald who is in her 22nd overall season in the program "That was our goal: get into the tournament win one game and be one of the last 16 teams standing we were playing not to lose," Macdonald said we can do this.’ It’s been a total change in their mindset and confidence.” the returning All-Scholastic forward who averaged 10 points and 3 blocks last season is the lone senior in Macdonald's starting lineup She often finishes as one of the team's leading scorers as an All-Scholastic volleyball player in the fall Spadorcia takes pride in her defensive prowess around the rim Quincy hasn't been the only opponent to find that out Spadorcia is joined by the junior point guard Mazzini sophomore Eva Downing and sophomore Izzy Rotondo in the starting five senior Ciara Zelano and sophomore Kate Sweeney are impactful off the bench to round out the rotation Braintree has started the season as a winner in 11 of its first 12 games with the lone loss coming at Cohasset on Dec The triumphs have come by an average differential of 13.6 points “We have a bunch of talent,” Macdonald said there’s a different energy (from last year) More: Scorers, stealers and more: 55 South Shore high school boys basketball starring “I feel like it’s a big team effort," Mazzini said "I feel like the younger players are starting to step up Since winning the title in 2019 under McDonnell There was no state tournament in 2021 due to the coronavirus 3 puts a target on your back," Macdonald said The South Shore Food Truck Association is ready to roll with food truck nights at four different South Shore locations from Tuesday through Friday other local vendors and activities for all ages The Highlands Playground in Braintree has been added as a fourth location this year The association lists the specific lineup of each week's trucks and events on its Facebook page. While the food truck nights haven't started quite yet, trucks are already at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Beth Israel Deaconess in Milton and South Shore Medical Center in Norwell, where Thyme Traveling Food Truck is part of the association's Lunchtime Food Trucks series The association has around 60 member businesses the combined menus of which more than cover breakfast "Now that all of our food truck nights are confirmed and announced − we are SO excited!" the association posted on its Facebook page Here are the run dates and times for each location: Food Truck Tuesday in HanoverWhen: 4 to 7 p.m For more: Search "South Shore Food Truck Association" on Facebook More: Mass. brewery 'Coe-llaborating' on new location's menu with celebrity chef Last season: Mom on the Go truck renamed sandwich as 'Portnoy grilled cheese.' Why? Convergent Energy and Power last month submitted a letter to the planning department withdrawing plans to construct four trailer-like structures on a portion of the Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church parking lot on Common Street The lithium-ion batteries would have a capacity of 5 megawatts and 15 megawatt hours Braintree Electric Light Department awarded the bid to New York-based Convergent to own and operate the batteries in an effort for the utility to comply with the state’s clean energy goals Convergent would have also been required to save BELD But Acting Fire Chief Fred Viola remained steadfast in his concern that the project was too close to homes and the church too hot or short-circuits can lead to an unending reaction called a thermal runaway These types of fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and have been known to reignite despite the amount of water required to put them out The usual course of action is to wait potentially several hours for the fire to run its course Safety officials recommend a minimum one-third mile evacuation radius for hazardous material incidents including lithium-ion battery fires The project would be 200 feet from the church hall and 159 feet from the closest home Viola added that the proposed evacuation routes were “insufficient” and managing an evacuation at this location would “strain resources potentially hindering an effective response while consuming departmental capacity solely for evacuation management.” “While I appreciate the effort and thought that the applicants have dedicated to this proposal I believe this facility would be better suited to a more industrial location in town where the associated risks can be mitigated more effectively,” Viola wrote BELD has another lithium-ion battery storage facility on Grove Street A BELD official noted in an October planning board meeting that it tried to look for nonresidential locations for the new battery storage site but they were either too expensive or wouldn’t functionally be feasible Convergent was going to pay $4,000 to the church to use its excess parking space In a Dec. 9 letter to Braintree’s planning director Convergent noted that it would “conduct a thorough site search to explore potential alternative locations for this project.” The developer of the former Motel 6 site in Braintree looks to be investing more in restaurant space for the commercial project According to new renderings submitted with the town in January Torrington Properties would swap one of the previously proposed retail spaces at 125 Union St This site would therefore have two fast-casual restaurants that together total 4,000 square feet as well as a standalone fast-food restaurant with room for 150 seats and a drive-thru lane The two fast-casual restaurants would be part of a single commercial building that also houses two retail spaces with a combined area of 3,900 square feet and a 2,280-square-foot bank with a drive-thru lane Ninety-four parking spaces would serve the site The tenants that would fill these spaces have yet to be revealed said there are letters of intent signed for some of the spaces But these recently proposed changes suggest an investment into eateries at this site Marinelli said it's a response to market demands Initial proposal after Chick-Fil-A exit: Redevelopment of former Motel 6 site adds retail space The developer is seeking a setback and parking variance from the zoning board and is set to present the new proposal on Feb The former motel was demolished in March 2024 and the developer began improving the property But almost a year later, the Atlanta-based fast-food chain informed the town it would not occupy the space Torrington Properties then adjusted its plans in November by adding to the existing proposal three retail spaces and a restaurant with outdoor patio seating in a 11,400-square-foot building the standalone restaurant is about 36% larger than what was proposed late last year There is also 2,600 more square feet of restaurant space comparatively BOSTON– WinnDevelopment and development partner Arch Communities announced the start of construction on The Eastwalk mixed-income apartment community in Braintree including 30 units available to households earning up to 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) 16 of which are eligible for low-income project-based assistance; 20 middle income/workforce units for those earning up to 120 percent of AMI; and six units available for rent at market rates “Braintree town officials and planners have been unwavering in their pursuit of a development that would not only provide quality apartment homes for a range of households but also create a community asset for the neighborhood,” said WinnDevelopment Executive Vice President Adam Stein “We’re grateful to our joint venture partner and the many public and private partners who stood alongside WinnDevelopment over the course of several years to move this project into the construction phase.” The five-story apartment community will be built on the former longtime location of the Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD) and will create a pedestrian riverwalk along the Monatiquot River with gathering areas allowing greater public access and improvements to the existing riverfront seawall “We’re thrilled to be providing this much-needed mixed-income housing for the Braintree community at such a challenging time for individuals and families seeking safe and affordable housing,” said Rich Relich “The redevelopment of this long-vacant parcel will further the economic growth of the Weymouth Landing district and will provide future residents with easy access to the district’s amenities Without the strong support from our partners the development of mixed-income properties like this wouldn’t be possible.” “I am happy to see that the federal contribution of nearly $4.8 million dollars in ARPA funding is being used to improve a neglected area along the Monatiquot River which is being developed in coordination with the Commonwealth’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” said Congressman Stephen Lynch “This funding follows the $3.15 million in federal Community Project Funding that we provided for the reconstruction of Allen Street which paved the way for the Eastwalk development to move forward and Arch Communities on the Eastwalk apartment complex will create an important opportunity for families in Braintree to have access to affordable housing in a safe and beautiful neighborhood.” In addition to expanding rental housing opportunities in Braintree the project will also play a key role in capitalizing on the town’s significant infrastructure investment in the area including a completely rebuilt streetscape street parking and pedestrian friendly enhancements “The Eastwalk Development will not only enhance our local housing options sustainable community that will thrive in Braintree,” said Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce “This project represents a critical step forward in meeting the diverse needs of our residents The public riverwalk will significantly enrich our town’s connection to the Monatiquot River alongside other ongoing river restoration projects like the Armstrong dam removal Riverwalk and fish ladder installation projects I’m looking forward to our continued partnership with Eastwalk developers and to meeting their future residents.” the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) provided federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and soft funding “Mixed-income housing with access to public transportation is critical to solving the housing shortage that has priced so many Massachusetts residents out of the market,” said Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus “Eastwalk will deliver that while bringing life and beauty back to a long-vacant riverfront property The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is proud to help make this development a realization.” Webster Bank is serving as the construction lender and U.S The Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) delivered Facilities Consolidation Funds (FCF) The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) funds The South Shore HOME Consortium delivered local HOME funds in support of the project MassHousing is serving the permanent lender for the project The agency also provided funding through its Workforce Housing Program and through the American Rescue Plan administered via the Affordable Housing Trust “It is exciting to see the start of construction for this transformative project that is going to redevelop an underutilized parcel on the riverfront in Braintree into a new housing community for households with a range of incomes and create public space and a new riverwalk for the community,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay “The residents who will occupy these new apartment homes will be an important part of the town’s efforts to bring new life and vibrancy into this neighborhood.” Boston Financial is the federal LIHTC investor in the project “Boston Financial is proud to partner with WinnCompanies a longtime partner over the past five decades the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the other vital agencies that made The Eastwalk possible,” said Rob Charest senior managing director at Boston Financial “We are excited to see the impact this project will have for the community in the Town of Braintree and the Weymouth Landing community helping to create 56 new homes all built with environmental sustainability in mind Boston Financial’s vision is to create a future where everyone has a home and The Eastwalk is an example of that belief in action.” The Eastwalk will be designed to be certified under Passive House and Energy Star Multifamily New Construction standards prioritizing energy efficiency to help curb emissions and utility costs The project will incorporate solar-ready principles and be evaluated for future solar PV installation It will open with five electric vehicle charging stations with additional conduit ready to meet future demand is serving as general contractor for the project using designs from The Architectural Team of Chelsea is serving as the civil engineer and geotechnical engineer for the project The Eastwalk enjoyed strong support from the Braintree Town Council Conservation Commission and Planning Department The project navigated a lengthy and complex entitlement process that required approvals from the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers which operated from the site from 1891 until 2000 supported the development team’s need to access the property assemble historic information and resolve technical issues Projected to be ready for occupancy in July 2026 the community will be managed by WinnResidential the property management arm of WinnCompanies Amenities will include a clubhouse community room with kitchen There will be an amenity deck overlooking the riverwalk as well as a patio lounge with grills and a gas firepit The development site is within walking distance of a nearby commuter rail station serving Boston and close to the Weymouth Landing business center with shopping Thomas More Church in Braintree will have a chance to keep a piece of the former Catholic sanctuary The church was located at 7 Hawthorn Road and 338 Elm St had worked with developer George Clements and his family to hand out about 70 bricks from the driveway of her home "You wouldn't believe how excited people were to walk into my driveway and pick up even a chipped brick because the church meant a lot to us," she said "Everybody from that church had different last names See the photos: St. Thomas More Church demolished to make way for age-restricted housing Clements bought the property from Archdiocese of Boston in October for $3.2 million But what happened to parts of the church itself The Archdiocese of Boston took religious artifacts including the cross that was affixed to the top of the church and now is placed in storage The archdiocese also retained the large stained-glass windows "Any artifacts we have removed have been stored," said Terrence Donilon secretary for communications and public affairs for the Archdiocese of Boston "Eventually we hope to be able to place these items with other Catholic parishes or schools first here in the Archdiocese and then other Catholic institutions requesting such artifacts." The developer said he was adamant about keeping the 40 lower sash stained-glass windows of the church These windows were memorials for parishioners that were donated by their families and he made sure to return a “good majority” back to the families It took a little over a day for the pile of bricks in Graziano's driveway to be claimed by fellow former parishioners because that was their home away from home," she said This was the place where strangers formed a close-knit community weddings and funerals were held – even where Graziano's son proposed to his girlfriend Graziano says she doesn't hold what's happened with the church against Clements because he is a businessman and appreciated giving parishioners this opportunity Clements said his focus is on entering a new era on the site with the project called The Residences at Hawthorn made up of 51 condominium units in the style of row houses The project will be before the Braintree planning board April 8 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page PayPal is looking to create a more profitable unbranded payment business line PayPal will utilize its pricing power to grow margin for its unbranded checkout solution for businesses CFO Jamie Miller told investors at the UBS Global Technology Conference in Scottsdale Braintree, which was acquired by PayPal in 2013, is a customizable payment solution used by large companies, including Uber, Spotify and Adobe. The company plans to grow margin through a new pricing strategy for Braintree, an initiative launched by CEO Alex Chriss in April with a focus on optimizing the value exchange through added services “For these really large merchants where we have intentionally gone after very very significant percentages of their revenue processing we're going back to them and having just much more strategic and holistic conversations around this value exchange,” including payment orchestration and risk services “[It’s about] having a different kind of relationship with them and not needing to process all of their revenue but being willing to pull back and take lower percentages of revenues…in exchange for having a much healthier margin profile on the overall relationship,” she said Early conversations with customers are going well PayPal initially built out its Braintree customer base by offering lower prices: The product line was less profitable than its branded payment solutions business, Payments Dive reported in April PayPal is looking to further grow its margins in the space by renegotiating contracts with large customers “They’re not just trying to take in any volume at any cost They believe they have a better value to provide and therefore they can charge more,” Wolfe Research analyst Darrin Peller told Payments Dive regarding the proposed pricing shifts Revenue growth and processing for PayPal’s unbranded business is expected to go down starting in the fourth quarter and will continue to decline for the next couple of quarters until the company resets its baseline in late 2025 “The third quarter was the second quarter in a row where we've had Braintree contributing meaningfully to transaction margin dollar growth,” she said “These are deliberate actions we're undertaking PayPal accepted a lower near-term Braintree revenue profile in exchange for those better margins as it renegotiated agreements with customers, Miller said during the company’s Q3 earnings call. Payments volume for PayPal’s unbranded segment grew 11% year over year during the third quarter The company is also optimistic about uptake for its Fastlane guest checkout, another unbranded payment offering it launched in August which simplifies online payments by storing customer names The service results in a 50 basis point conversion uplift The growth of PayPal’s branded payment business is also a priority including experiential improvements for merchants and consumers Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts With the Trump administration embracing digital assets finance leaders need to get educated on the potential risk and reward of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins State changes to licensing rules are chipping away at a decades-old system that has largely required CPA candidates to complete what effectively amounts to a fifth year of schooling Subscribe to the CFO Dive free daily newsletter The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Drew Boucher celebrates after scoring a run for Newton North baseball.Peyton Doyle Braintree has been on a tear since falling to Walpole in their season opener The Wamps have won seven of eight games to take the top spot in this week’s Bay State Conference baseball power rankings Natick moves back into the top three but have a major challenge when they travel to Braintree Wednesday afternoon The Warriors are 4-1 in their last five conference games including a 6-5 win over the Weymouth Wildcats on Monday Weymouth had won their prior five games and stay in the top five After five straight games with four or fewer runs (all losses) the Timberwolves have rekindled their work at the plate Beating Newton South and Needham in the past week the Tigers move up to seventh in these rankings dropping their third game in a row with a 7-5 Loss to Natick on Monday to move to eighth Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices also known as “Jacha,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on Jan The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million As part of a plea agreement filed in court Melendez Decatro will receive the minimum 10-year prison term and minimum five years of supervised release when he is sentenced by U.S Packages intended for Melendez Decatro containing a kilogram (around 2.2 pounds) of cocaine each were intercepted by law enforcement twice in 2021 Prosecutors said Melendez Decatro also conspired several times in the spring of 2023 with a Dominican Republic resident to distribute 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl to another person in Braintree The purity of the fentanyl exceeded 50% and also contained xylazine, a tranquilizer used by veterinarians, according to the news release which also said more than $10,000 in drug proceeds and clothing worn during the fentanyl transactions were recovered in a search of Melendez Decatro's home SEASON TICKETS               CLUB SHOP               COMMUNITY TRUST Watch below via our official YouTube channel Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Accessibility | Company Details MA– Waterstone Properties Group has closed on the acquisition of a 86,000SF retail condo within Braintree Marketplace one of Massachusetts busiest shopping centers seeing more than 1.9 million visits annually and 106,000 vehicles per day The shopping center is anchored by Nordstrom Rack Ulta beauty and a “to be announced” national grocer concept The site also has a 6,000 SF pad expansion opportunity and was acquired from Seritage Growth Properties Waterstone Properties is focused on expanding its retail portfolio in high growth markets along the eastern seaboard targeting existing shopping centers with unrealized upside by leveraging Waterstone’s deep in-house expertise and core competencies in leasing “Our strategy is rooted in strong supply and demand fundamentals within suburban markets and secondary cities presenting a compelling acquisition opportunity,” said Richard Greer “By leveraging our existing infrastructure and strong tenant and broker relationships we can acquire and reposition underperforming centers unlocking value and delivering opportunistic Waterstone aims to acquire approximately $250 million in gross asset value (GAV) over the next several years Alexia “Lexi” Nixon will be remembered by family and friends this week in memorial services dedicated to the teen who died in a Braintree car crash. Nixon died Dec. 10, nine days after the SUV in which she was a passenger was hit by a driver charged with operating under the influence in Braintree At the center of Nixon’s life was her family, particularly her younger sisters and her mother, who was also a best friend, according to an obituary posted by Keohane Funeral Home She loved to spend time with friends and make TikTok videos Called a “true fashionista,” Nixon loved luxury goods and hunting for the best items Her laugh brought a smile to others and she was known for being generous and kind Nixon was an honor roll student at Nauset Regional High School in Orleans through her junior year She participated in Pop Warner cheerleading When the funeral will be for Alexia NixonVisiting hours will be held from 4 p.m on Friday at McDonald Keohane Funeral Home at 809 Main St funeral mass will be held at Glastonbury Abbey Nixon is also survived by her sisters Gianna and Bella Seckinger She was a granddaughter to Paula Diminico and her husband Nixon is also survived by step-grandparents Nixon was traveling in an SUV near 655 Union St 1 when the vehicle was hit by an accused drunken driver The 18-year-old driver from West Yarmouth and another 21-year-old passenger were hospitalized with injuries that were called serious but not life-threatening Nixon had multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury according to the GoFundMe started by her mother’s best friend Nixon died more than a week later at Boston Medical Center The driver, 39-year-old Ryan Gorman, of Holbrook, pleaded not guilty from his hospital bed to three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury one count of driving negligently so as to endanger and one count of failing to drive within marked lanes He was released on $5,000 cash bail and has a Jan WEYMOUTH -- After a misfire on Sunday (a loss to Tewksbury in the Ed Burns Tournament), the members of the Braintree High boys hockey team finally got to stage their surprise party for coach Dave Fasano on Thursday night Thanks to two goals from Sean Canavan and the latest in a long line of solid defensive performances this winter at Connell Rink for Fasano's 300th career victory there were gifts -- a banner that the players unveiled on the ice postgame and then a commemorative blue Braintree jersey with "300" on the front and back where a player's usual number would go Fasano was presented with the jersey -- and a celebratory ice-water bath -- in the locker room It was 19 degrees outside when the Wamps finally pulled out of the parking lot so the coach was frantically drying off with a towel while being interviewed the win right now is more important (than the milestone)," said Fasano "It's huge for us in terms of building confidence But that means I've had a lot of really good hockey players and a lot of good assistant coaches they knew and they gave it a little extra tonight More: VOTE: Patriot Ledger/Enterprise Midseason Wrestler of the Year The win snapped Weymouth's 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) and allowed the Wamps to square their overall record at 7-7-2 having won 3-1 at Zapustas Arena back on Dec 14 in the latest MIAA Division 1 power rankings; Braintree was 19th More: Cast your vote for the 2025 Patriot Ledger Regular Season Girls Indoor Track MVP "It meant everything for us," senior goaltender Amir Cullinane said of the victory "We came into the game knowing that we needed a win And obviously getting that 300th win for Coach is really special to him and to us as well." Said Weymouth coach Pat Kennedy: "I like Dave a lot I told our guys to make sure to grab the puck (after the final whistle) and give it to him He's been doing it a long time and he's been doing it the right way for a long time but I wish that he had done it last week." Braintree had scored two or fewer goals in seven straight games coming in linemate Devin Lucas and defenseman Joe DiMartino found the net in this one for the Wamps' biggest offensive output since a 5-2 victory over Framingham on Jan "The last few days in practice we've just been working on getting pucks to the net," Fasano said "Sometimes we pass up a shot for that extra pass or that extra little fake and (taking) that extra second at this level doesn't translate More: Avon, Holbrook boys basketball stars explode: South Shore sports top performers Feb. 3-9 Weymouth lost for the first time since Christmas Eve (a 5-2 defeat by Hingham) The Wildcats hadn't allowed more than three goals in a game during their hot streak and had showcased a deep Alex Stockton had a team-best 10 goals during the unbeaten run Ryan Ferguson (7) and Ryan MacDonald (7) had peppered the net as well pulling Weymouth within 3-2 with 7:41 left in regulation but the Wildcats couldn't anything else past Cullinane who came in with a 1.50 goals-against average this season Nevin Roche had Weymouth's first goal for a 1-1 tie early in the second period "He's been doing that all year for us," Fasano raved of Cullinane "He's been keeping us in the games; it's just a matter of us scoring He always seems to be in the right position in the net Weymouth won't have long to dwell on the end of its streak The Wildcats have to double up this weekend visiting Milton (7-4-6) in a Bay State Conference game on Saturday at 6 p.m and then doing a quick turnaround to face Canton (15-1-1) on Sunday at 11 a.m at Tsongas Center in Lowell for the championship game of the Ed Burns Tournament (Brinn Division) "This team moves on pretty well," Kennedy said "They can come in tomorrow and they turn the page They know that we had a good heater (with the unbeaten streak) the Wamps hope to use this milestone win as a launching pad for the final four games of the regular season Fasano's club has beaten Pope Francis (15-2) swept Weymouth and tied Reading (10-3-4) but has stumbled against some lesser opponents "We seem to play better against good teams "We have four games to go before the tournament I just hope that these kids realize that we're a good team when we play our style of hockey." "I don't think anyone's going to be too excited to see us in the first round." WOBURN — When Francesca Spadorcia checked out coach Kelley Macdonald stopped her briefly before the senior captain emotionally made her way down a line of teammates' high-fives to the end of the bench You may have missed it among the chaos in the air But Macdonald felt as though Spadorcia deserved to have her curtain called one last time in a blue and white uniform “She gave everything for us," a moved Macdonald said Spadorcia's high school career with the Braintree High girls basketball team concluded here as the No in the Division 1 Final Four at Woburn High School on Tuesday This marked the team's furthest postseason stride since winning state championships in consecutive seasons in 2018 and 2019 2 Bishop Feehan in the final at Tsongas Center in Lowell on Saturday at 6 p.m Spadorcia the Bay State Conference Herget Division MVP center was at the forefront of a defensive undertaking that capped a high-octane Wachusett offense to its second lowest-scoring output of the season “If you’re going to have a captain of a team you want them to be like Spadorcia," Macdonald said The little girls in town are going look up to her and to talk about how they want to be the next Spadorcia That’s what we need to keep the program going.” Spadorcia wiped away tears upon hearing about her coach's high praise "That’s how I wanted to leave it," she said I just looked up to her so much," junior point guard Frankie Mazzini said of Spadorcia I’m definitely going to miss her next year.” Spadorcia has yet to commit to a college basketball team She departs alongside four other seniors: Kiana O'Sullivan Their final career game was closely contested with 1:05 to play before Wachusett went 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the clutch as the Wamps fouled to stop the clock “Our defense was absolutely outstanding," MacDonald said of the effort against the bracket's top seed which averaged 70.1 points per game in the regular season (Wachusett) is just so talented and I think our best thing is our defense so (a low-scoring game) is what we were hoping for More: 'Look at where we got to': North Quincy girls basketball reflects on breakout season More: Williams, Rice rise to the challenge to send Norwell High boys basketball to state final Braintree was held without a field goal for the first six minutes of the second quarter until sophomores Kate Sweeney (10 points) and Izzy Rotondo (4 points) hit a pair of 3-pointers to shrink the deficit to 20-16 at halftime Those were the team's only points in the frame then surrendered six points in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter to climb back from a nine-point hole "We knew that’s who Wachusett is — they go on runs “We definitely deserved to be where we are right now," Mazzini said Sophomore Eva Downing (11 points) led the team in scoring She knocked down three 3-pointers in total two of which came in the third quarter: “Defensively and offensively she had to work her butt off tonight," Macdonald said 15 seed in the Division 1 bracket after an 11-11 regular season The team missed the tournament cut altogether the year before 4 seed this time with an 18-2 regular season record was one of the many highlights of the season It was a standing reminiscent of the past title teams “They kept setting us up for opportunities past my wildest expectations," Macdonald said of her players “This is the best team I could’ve done it with," Spadorcia said