Tsiotos, Ferguson power Winthrop girls basketball past Saugus, 38-31
By Cary Shuman
Polixeni Tsiotos (center) is having an outstanding season for the Winthrop High School girls
basketball team, especially from beyond the arc where she has netted 54 three-pointers.
Polixeni is pictured after last Thursday’s Winthrop-Saugus game, in which she scored 21 points,
with her basketball-playing cousins, from left, Niki Tsiotos, Georgia Condakes of Saugus High, Katerina Mallios, and Poli Tsiotos.
Polixeni Tsiotos scored 21 points including six 3-pointers, and Bailey Ferguson had 13 points and five assists as the Winthrop High girls basketball team defeated Saugus, 38-31, last Thursday night on the Sachems’ home court.
Tsiotos, a prolific long-range shooter with 54 three-pointers to-date this season, swished two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to break a 27-27 deadlock. Josie Barry had a key layup to extend the lead while 6-foot center Amina Barry sealed the victory with a follow-up basket in the paint.
Ferguson, an excellent ballhander and playmaker, scored Winthrop’s first seven points of the game before a Tsiotos three-pointer gave Winthrop a 10-6 lead after one quarter.
Saugus led, 21-17, at the half, before Tsiotos (a corner-three to start the third quarter) and Ferguson combined for Winthrop’s 10 points to tie the game at 27-27.
Tsiotos continued her hot hand in the fourth quarter. Winthrop’s defense dug in and preserved the lead.
Head coach Anthony Hatzisavas was pleased with his team’s performance, especially on defense where the Vikings held Saugus to ten points total in the second half.
“I thought it was a great win coming off a back-to-back against Swampscott the night before,” said Hatzisavas. “We knew Saugus would be a tough test in front of their large crowd and they have one of the best players in the conference and one of the best players in their school history in Peyton DiBiasio. I thought Bailey helped us get out to a great start and we did very well defensively with our 2-3 zone (led by the starting five of Bailey Ferguson, Josie Barry, Polixeni Tsiotos, Amina Barry, and Jenna Whitehead).”
DiBiaisio scored 16 points, but the Winthrop defense made the Sachems’ star work hard for her baskets. DiBiasio became Saugus High’s all-time scorer (girls or boys) with 1,611 points following a three-pointer with a minute left in the fourth quarter.
Barry pulls down 20
rebounds in 32-29 win over Essex Tech
Amina Barry was the difference maker with nine points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks, in a non-league game against Essex Tech.
“Amina really dominated in the middle and had nine offense rebounds,” lauded Hatzisavas.
Tsiotos (7 points), Ferguson (6), Whitehead (6), and Barry (4) also contributed well for the Vikings.
“It was nice to win a defensive battle,” said Hatzisavas. Winthrop had a 5-5 record, 6-10 overall, heading into a Tuesday night game against Masconomet Regional in Boxford. Winthrop travels to Salem Friday night. The Vikings are contending for a Division 4 berth in the MIAA Tournament