WEST NEWBURY — Their names didn't show up in the papers throughout the course of the season, but they've quietly played key roles in helping get Pentucket into tomorrow's Division 3 state championship game.
Assistant coaches Amy Beaton and her father Bob Beaton have helped the 26-0 Sachems enjoy the best season in school history.
"It's been invaluable the support I've had,'' said head girls basketball coach John McNamara. "Last year Carol Fichera did a great job as the JV coach, but to have a full-time varsity assistant with Bob has been an incredible advantage. (Bob) can take over practices, and Amy has put in double duty coming to a lot of our practices and at times practicing with the girls.
"She's an ex-player (Haverhill High Class of 2003) that played in college so the girls really respect her and her opinion, and she's still got that fire in the belly, which is perfect because instead of an old man like me, she's like a contemporary that relates to them.
"They've been a huge help talking strategy and having done scouting. It's something the program needed to get to the next level, and it's paid off in the first year."
The Beaton family is synonymous with Pentucket athletics with a slew of accomplished athletes in basketball, football, baseball, tennis, field hockey, you name it.
Bob, a 1971 grad, played basketball for four years at Pentucket, a year for Manhattan College as a walk-on, and watched his sons Tim and Jeff play for the Sachems.
Amy got involved with the Sachems when her cousin Lyndsay was a senior on the team, and Bob, who had been Amy's scorekeeper when she was the freshman coach, took on a more significant role when Amy decided to go to grad school.
Bob Beaton said, "It's great to be with Amy and teach some of these kids some back-to-basics things. It's strange because I was always the one giving instructions. Every once in a while she'll turn to me and say, 'I've got it,' a chance to yell at the old man, which probably makes it more fun for her."
Amy, who is only a few years older than the players, is especially popular with the Sachems.
"She's crazy," said senior guard Erin McNamara with a laugh. "My dad (John) was psyched. He bought this new white board that he was going to use when it got too loud at the gym (before the Division 3 North final) to write plays on. She took it and slammed it on her knee and broke it (in a heated moment during the game). There's dents and cracks in it now."
Senior guard Ashley Viselli added, "I think she is really like the motivator of the team, Mr. Mac yells, but he's more of a laid back kind of guy. Amy will get right up in your face, hold your shirt, and yell at you. Actually at Emmanuel, she was yelling, '24, 24 (Viselli's number) what are you doing, get a rebound.' You could see the smoke coming out of her ears."
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