Spencer New Leader: "O’Keefe, Giguere, Burns, Boutilette Battle On College Parquet"

"O'Keefe, Giguere, Burns, Boutilette Battle On College Parquet"
Former Quabog, Shepherd Hill Stars Renew Rivalry 

By Nick Ethier, Sports Editor

February 18, 2011  

Worcester, MA --- The Quaboag–Shepherd Hill high school girls' basketball rivalry has been well recognized over the past few years, but on Feb. 12 at Worcester State University four former players renewed that rivalry on a college court.

Shepherd Hill graduate Megan Boutilette – now a freshman at Bridgewater State – and Quaboag alums Becca Giguere, Meaghan O'Keefe, and Meaghan Burns – all Worcester State athletes – played against one another in a Massachusetts State Colleigate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game.

Bridgewater improved to 16-6 overall, 7-3 in the MASCAC, with a 72-60 victory over Worcester (11-12 overall, 5-5 MASCAC). Giguere and two teammates (Kathleen Foley and Alexis George) were honored before the game for their contributions to the team, as they participated in the Senior Night festivities.

"There were six or seven of us," Giguere said of the incoming class four years ago. "We were the only three that survived. It was really special for us."

Giguere has played in 97 games –starting 69 – and against Bridgewater she played 28 minutes (2nd on the team), scoring two points, grabbing two rebounds, and dishing out two assists from her point guard position.

O'Keefe, a sophomore, started and played 20 minutes, scoring 11 points (2nd on the team), collecting two rebounds, and getting a hand on three blocks.

Burns, a freshman, led the reserves in 27 minutes played and scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made two assists.

Giguere has enjoyed this season, especially with two former high school teammates running the floor right beside her.

"I love them to death," she said of O'Keefe and Burns. "There was one game where the three of us started. You're with people you're used to played with."

Boutilette, on the other side, doesn't have former teammates on her current squad, but it hasn't slowed her down. She was the first player off the Bears' bench and played 11 minutes. Boutilette had five rebounds, a pair of which came on the offensive end in the second half, which resulted in more opportunities and more points for her team.

"Every sub brings in a little pep to the team," she said after being flanked by her parents, sibling, aunts, uncles, and cousins at the conclusion of the game. "We bring in an extra burst."

Bridgewater played some of their best basketball in the second half (they only led by three points, 30-27, at halftime) when Boutilette was on the floor, and by the time she exited the Bears had a comfortable lead, one in which they never relinquished.

There was a time in the first half when Boutilette was matched up with Burns on the offensive end, something that was reminiscent of the past few years at the high school level.

"I like playing rivals," Boutilette said. "They're rivals now [in college] too. I wanted the ball so bad [against Burns]."

Both Boutilette and Giguere enjoy playing basketball at the collegiate level, and both agree that it is much different than the Southern Worcester County League high school action they were previously accustomed to.

"I love it," Boutilette said. "It's a lot different. You're never going to play a team that's horrible."

"It was completely different," Giguere added about the transition to college hoops. "You come here and you're running, running, running. You have to see where you fit in [to the system]. Coming in as a freshman you're like 'what do I do, how do I fit in?'"

Giguere had all the answers for O'Keefe when she was a freshman.

"Coming in Meg was like 'how is it?'" Giguere said. "I'm sure Meg Burns asked [O'Keefe the same questions] because they're really close."

Although Giguere will be gone after this winter, it appears that Boutilette, Burns, and O'Keefe will all be able to renew their old high school rivalry – and play in the collegiate rivalry, as well – for many years to come.

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