LOWELL, Mass. — Legendary Oliver Ames head coach Laney Clement-Holbrook likes to describe her squad as a puzzle, the players fitting together to create a true team.
The Tigers temporarily lost one of the pieces to its puzzle in the middle of February when senior Anna Murphy was forced out of action with a concussion in a win over Foxboro.
Murphy didn’t play the final four games of the regular season, which included two of OA’s three losses this entire year, missed the first-round win over North Middlesex, and saw very little action in the playoff rematch with Foxboro, essentially missing a half dozen games to close the season.
“It was difficult, I just remember thinking how bad I wanted to be back, I really wanted to be back but I wasn’t getting better as quick as I wanted to but I wanted to be ready for the tournament,” Murphy said. “And Laney knew that too, she kept telling me to take my time. It took a little longer than I wanted, even though it wasn’t the same as before, it worked out perfectly fine.
“It was unfortunate because I had to stay indoors, I missed everyone so much. I was FaceTiming them at the pasta dinners…it was unfortunate it happened but I think it helped us grow and it made me appreciate the time I had with all of them. It makes me sad to think it’s over now.”
Now back in the fold, Murphy played a vital role in helping Oliver Ames clinch the Division 2 State Championship with a 53-48 win over previously undefeated Norwood.
“Getting her back, absolutely completed [the puzzle],” Clement-Holbrook said. It broke our heart that she missed six games because of that concussion. It was just like God looking over our shoulders and this made things right. The fact that she contributed in that way, especially tonight, it was like all the pieces were back together.
“I always talk about a puzzle, we are one big puzzle. Just because someone’s piece is bigger or someone’s is smaller, if you pull it out, it’s not a complete puzzle anymore.”
The senior reserve has been a big boost in the early goings throughout the playoff run, getting six points in the win over Dracut and adding a basket in the first half of OA’s overtime thriller against Medfield in the state semifinals.
It continued on Saturday night at the Tsongas Center, converting a layup in the first quarter for a 15-10 lead, and then adding a floater (20-14) and a putback in the second, the latter bucket giving the Tigers a 24-21 lead at halftime.
“We absolutely missed her,” said classmate Caroline Peper. “With her out it was a missing part of our team. Even in the Medfield game, we knew she was going to be the key component that was missing in our previous games. We knew she was going to make a great impact and just needed to do what she was doing before she left.”
While her offensive contributions in the first half were important, her points in the fourth were gigantic for the Tigers. OA was forced into some lineup changes due to foul trouble, and the Norwood defense was zoned in on stopping Peper and sophomore Jasmyn Cooper. That left plenty of opportunity for others to step up and Murphy took advantage.
She hit nothing but net on a tough elbow jumper with under four minutes to play that put the Tigers ahead 44-38. And she wasn’t rattled by the bright lights or loud crowd either as she sank a pair of free throws to make it 48-43 with two minutes to go.
“She’s so consistent, such a great role model,” Cooper said. ”She gives us great energy off the court and on the court. It really brings the energy up in the gym.”
The Mustangs battled back into the game, a quick 5-1 burst capped by a strong take from Erin Reen got the top-seed within one with 25.9 seconds left. After missing the free throw, Murphy hauled in a huge defensive rebound and was fouled.
Cool as a cucumber, the senior sank both free throws to push OA’s lead back to three at 51-48 with 21 seconds left in the game. OA got a final stop and Peper iced the game with two free throws with just seconds left.
“I think everyone believes in everyone else on this team, which is amazing,” Murphy said. “We’re all so skilled and developed players that we aren’t afraid to take it when we need to. Pep was being guarded like crazy, Kaydance [Derba] was in foul trouble, and it’s those times that the whole team works together. At that point, it was just finding the open player.”
On top of her offensive showing, Murphy had her hands full on the defensive side. Classmate Hailey Bourne, one of the best defenders in the region, picked up two fouls early on and battled foul trouble all game. That meant Murphy was tasked with guarding Villanova-commit and 1,000-point scorer Megan Olbrys.
While Olbrys finished with a team-high 21 points, she was consistently and constantly heavily defended by Murphy and others.
“Without question [everyone had their moment]. The only two players who had the physicality to handle [Meg Olbrys] were Hailey [Bourne] and Murph. When Murph came in, she stepped up.
“It was just so satisfying for me because I just felt like she had been so cheated but it ends with us winning a state championship so I couldn’t be happier.”
Murphy’s return proved to be the final piece needed in Oliver Ames’ puzzle, and that resulted in the D2 State Championship.
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