BOSTON - At 5-foot-9, Central Catholic senior forward Kelley Mikus isn't exactly built to face Lowell's Wilson twins. Brianna (6-3) and Whitney (6-1) are two of the Merrimack Valley's best post players.
"Those girls are big," Mikus said. "My head's like in their stomach."
Still, with Katie Zenevitch in foul trouble — she picked up her fourth midway through the final quarter — Mikus' job was to put a body on the Wilsons. Mikus finished with only two points and five rebounds, but she was invaluable to the Central cause.
"We don't win that game without her," coach Sue Downer said after the Raiders' 59-48 victory in yesterday's Division 1 North final.
Mikus' father Steve smiled afterward. After 32 minutes of frayed nerves, he could finally relax.
"That was her role," he said of his daughter's work down low. "To be the neutralizer."
Believe it or not, the tri-captain spent the past few days acting as one of the Wilsons. Mainly, so the 6-3 Zenevitch could prepare for what she'd face yesterday.
"That was her job in practice," Zenevitch said.
And she did it well.
She only had five rebounds, but as assistant coach Zibby McCleary said, "Kelley's boards were big boards."
Mikus may not score a ton of points, but her worth, McCleary said, is immeasurable.
"She's a tough kid," McCleary said. "She does her job."
Save money, buy early
Tickets for tomorrow's state semifinal slate at TD Banknorth Garden will be available from noon to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Catholic's Memorial Gymnasium. An advance ticket costs $8. A ticket at the Garden box office costs $13.
Central athletic director Peter Paladino said he has about 750 tickets available.
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