“Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.” Head Coach Tony Alario’s mantra reverberated throughout Fitchburg High School’s gymnasium during every practice session of the budding 1989-1990 season.
Coach Alario, Assistant Coach Dan Brasili, Assistant Coach Ed Gastonguay, and their squad entered the season cautiously optimistic, with several players returning from a District Tournament appearance the season prior (which marked only the third appearance in the school’s history). The FHS girls’ basketball program had clearly been improving steadily
throughout the late 1980s, as the players in this era were the first to entirely grow up under the strides of Title IX and the coming of age of youth sports programs. This year, there was no fear. This veteran group of athletes felt that they could handle any team on the schedule. Yes, previously, they had won games. But, this season, they wanted to win championships.
Why did the coaching staff feel that way about this group of athletes? Well, they had a squad with a nice blend of experience, excellent skills, focus, and balance on the floor. Paula Goodchild was a four year starter who could shoot, pass, rebound, and, most importantly, lead. Deanna Baxter knew how to get and hold position under the basket for those key stops, rebounds, and put backs . Diana Bellabarba was a scrappy and tenacious defensive player who could sneak in some beautiful outside shots. Megan Normandin was strong on the boards and had a nifty, lethal turn-around jumper. And, Tara Sweeney was a sharp-shooting, inside passing, and driving to the basket kind of a threat. But one of the major advantages the coaches knew they had in this super season was the incredibly solid play from a deep, deep, very deep bench. Tracey Smith had a highly effective soft jumper, passing eye, and rebounding presence. Windy Rosebush , Carey Rosebush, along with Leigh Withington , Jodi Tousignant, Jen Reid, and Devin Grier had been in the program for several seasons and, when called upon, were perfectly capable of extending any lead and making the necessary defensive stand. During their storied season, all of the aforementioned feelings became reality, and, on top of it all, this teamed just gelled.
They pressed, ran, shot, rebounded, stole, and most often, simply out fought in ways not previously seen on the floor of the FHS Brickyard. They toppled teams that had long been nemeses, and they grew stronger and stronger as the season rolled on. When the regular season came to a close in late February, the Red Raiders’ record stood at 16-4, which would give them a middle seed in the upcoming District Tournament. The regular season proved to the girls that they were capable to playing even with any team in the district, so they were confident they would be a serious contender. To them, it was already clear nobody could push this Red and Gray squad around during what was to be their championship season.
The interesting part is they, and their loyal fans, seemed to be the only ones thinking that. The media was quick to label the FHS girls as the underdogs , upstarts, and soon, the Cinderella team, in all press accounts. But, back in the Brickyard, Coach Alario, Coach Brasili, and Coach Gastonguay kept telling them it was their time to shine.
And shine, they did.
First up, in the District Quarterfinals, was St. Peter-Marian High School, the powerhouse and gold standard of Central Mass basketball for nearly fifteen years. And, more importantly, the team that had kept FHS from advancing beyond this round in 2 of its previous 3 attempts. Hosting its second-ever home tournament game, the girls simply rocked the house. They were firing on all cylinders and ran the Guardians right off the floor with a powerful 68-59 victory. At the conclusion, Coach Alario and the team were clearly excited, albeit a bit reverent and grateful to have finally achieved FHS’ first-ever District win.
Next up, Marlborough High School, for the District Semifinals, and the truth is, the Panthers never really knew what hit them.
The Raider defense was on overdrive, and they swarmed all over the Holy Cross Hart Center right from the get-go. In addition, the girls excelled at, well, everything. Jump shots were falling, lay-ups were textbook, and rebounds were commanding. All told, the 66-54 victory made a strong statement to the rest of the field: We are here and you had better watch out! The girls’ collective confidence had reached an all time high.
Onto Holy Name Central Catholic High School, the number one seed, for the District Championship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ‘s Harrington Auditorium.
Coach Alario knew he was up against an excellent coaching staff from Holy Name and the Naps would rely on their superstar to bring the Dl title home. On this afternoon, an even more-inspired Raider defense showed up and concentrated its efforts on stopping the Holy Name superstar and shutting down their typical penetration to the middle, and the strategy worked exceptionally well. While the game was a nail biter and FHS’ faithful fans were going a little crazy in the stands, the girls were as cool as the other side of the pillow, as they say on ESPN. With the clock winding down, the Red and Gray sideline exploded with happiness. The team had reached the mountaintop-they were the champions, with a 44-40 victory! And, in a moment that will live forever for the members of this team, at center court, the girls were able to scream to Coach Alario, “Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.”
As sweet as the championship win was, they were in the State Tournament now, and preparation had to begin. Back to the Brickyard to prepare for the next stop, Springfield Civic Center, to play Agawam High School for the State Semifinal.
The 23-0 Agawam team was considered to be one of the finest teams ever produced out west. Somehow, that characterization didn’t seem to matter to FHS. When the girls walked onto the floor, the thousands of spectators in the stands exploded with cheers for this group of athletes. The bright lights were turned on, the introductions were over, and just like that, the Red Raiders’ attacked Agawam from the outset. The fans-save those seated in the FHS cheering section-sat in stunned, despondent silence as Fitchburg built a double-digit lead early in the second period. Paula was all over the court, calming her teammates . Diana was playing excellent D and Tara was hitting her jumpers. Deanna, Megan and Tracey were battling for every rebound and loose ball. The Red and Gray cheering section was completely out of its mind as the Raiders sparkled on the Civic Center court. But as the second half evolved, Agawam showed why it was undefeated and so highly regarded. Early in the fourth, the Raider lead had shriveled to a few points, and Coach Alario looked to his bench to try and stop the comeback. He called upon Windy Rosebush to get into the game, and there then occurred a magical six minutes in which this kid rose to the challenge and helped secure an amazing 56-51 victory. When the final horn had sounded, the girls stood at midcourt laughing, crying, hugging, and smiling.
And, just like that, the FHS girls were bound for the State Final game at the Centrum (now the DCU Center) in Worcester against the 23-0 Bridgewater-Raynham High School.
Spoiler alert-The clock finally did strike twelve for this Cinderella team, as the Raiders fell 58-37 to the powerful eastern Massachusetts team in the State Final. Itwas an excellent game, and the FHS crew battled the entire game against a bigger and stronger Bridgewater-Rayhnam squad. And, as difficult as it was to see the emotion on the girls’ faces at the end, they proudly accepted the runner-up trophy and represented Fitchburg High School so very well. The coaching staff, and their fans, immediately applauded them for their efforts. This group of athletes did what no FHS girls’ basketball team had ever done, and, to this day, has yet to repeat. Twenty-three years later, the aura of that season has not yet worn off.
Congratulations to Deanna Baxter Bridgham, Diana Bellabarba, Paula Goodchild Gastonguay, Carey Rosebush Doucette, Windy Rosebush Catino, Leigh Withington Welch, Devin Grier Norris, Megan Normandin, Jennifer Reid Curtis, Tara Sweeney, Jodi Tousignant, Shelley Mundie Sappet, Eva Heckel Sanchez, Margie Pierce, Amy Robichaud Beaulac, Tracey Smith, Lynee Heckel Fife, Tony Alario, Dan Brasili, and Ed Gastonguay as you enter the FHS Athletic Hall of Fame for your team accomplishments. A deserved honor, no doubt, with feats that continue to stand up to the test of time.