Andover Freshman Lexi Linsey Leads Team to Statement Win

Linsey scores 10 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to power Andover past St. Mary's, 52-41, in the Spartan Classic.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Andover freshman Lexi Linsey, who missed much of the first half of the season due to injury, stepped up in a big way to lead her team to a statement win over St. Mary's in the Spartan Classic. Linsey scored 10 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter as Andover overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat the Spartans 52-41.

Why it matters

Linsey's performance in the clutch highlights her ability to thrive in the spotlight and lead her team to victory, even after missing significant time due to injury earlier in the season. Andover's comeback win over a tough St. Mary's squad also serves as a statement that the Golden Warriors are a force to be reckoned with in the girls basketball landscape.

The details

Andover trailed St. Mary's 26-21 at halftime, but a 10-0 run in the third quarter gave the Golden Warriors the lead. The teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter until Linsey took over, scoring 5 points in under 30 seconds to give Andover a 45-39 advantage. The Golden Warriors closed the game on a 12-3 run to secure the 52-41 victory.

  • Linsey scored 10 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter.
  • Andover trailed St. Mary's 26-21 at halftime.
  • Andover went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take the lead.

The players

Lexi Linsey

A freshman on the Andover girls basketball team who missed much of the first half of the season due to injury, but stepped up in a big way to lead her team to a statement win over St. Mary's.

Alan Hibino

The head coach of the Andover girls basketball team, who made key adjustments at halftime that helped his team overcome an 11-point deficit.

Charleigh Green

A player for the St. Mary's Spartans who led a 12-0 run in the first quarter to give her team a 22-11 lead.

Kallie Martin

An Andover player who hit a crucial 3-pointer at the end of the first half to cut St. Mary's lead to 26-21.

Savannah Ross

An Andover player who capped a 10-0 run in the third quarter to give the Golden Warriors a 31-28 lead.

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What they’re saying

“She just took over and made some big shots.”

— Alan Hibino, Andover Head Coach (bostonherald.com)

“A lot of credit has to go to my staff. We spent most of the 10 minutes at halftime making changes to handle their press, and the kids went out and executed it.”

— Alan Hibino, Andover Head Coach (bostonherald.com)

What’s next

Andover will look to build on this statement win as they continue their season, while St. Mary's will aim to rebound from the tough loss.

The takeaway

Lexi Linsey's clutch performance in the fourth quarter, coupled with Andover's defensive adjustments at halftime, showcased the Golden Warriors' ability to overcome adversity and defeat a tough opponent. This win serves as a testament to Andover's resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run.