LAKEVILLE – Apponequet girls basketball coach Trevor Gagnier had one goal this season: “We wanted to make it to the Sweet 16, and we did.” 

The 12th seeded Apponequet girls basketball team faced 5th seeded St. Mary’s High School on Monday, March 4 in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Div. 3 round of 16. 

“Going into the game, we were confident,” said Gagnier. “We were playing some of our best basketball over the last couple of weeks.” 

Despite a strong effort, the Lakers lost 68-40 to St. Mary’s. 

Though the team played well in the first quarter, Apponequet was down 12 points by half time, with a score of 29-17, said Gagnier.  

After that, their game plan changed. 

“We weren’t trying to get all 12 points back, we just wanted to stay in the game.” 

Gagnier noted that while it was a difficult way to end the year, the team must not lose sight of who they were playing against. 

“We lost to a really good basketball team,” he said. “We have to give them credit, they definitely deserved the win.”

He emphasized that while the Lakers are out of the playoffs, they had “a really competitive season,” finishing with a 19-3 record in the regular season.

Gagnier, who has been coaching the team for 14 years, said this group is the sixth team in the school’s history to make it to the round of 16.

“We understand what we accomplished,” he said.