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JERREY ROBERTS

Amherst Regional senior forward Nicole DeMarchena, center, and senior guard Molly Schulman shout from the bench during the Hurricanes’ win over Algonquin Tuesday at the DCU Center in Worcester. Assistant coach Ed Murphy, left, watches the game. DeMarchena has missed the entire season with a knee injury but contributed in other ways.

Nicole DeMarchena couldn't bear to watch.

At one point late in Tuesday's state Division 1 semifinal, the Amherst Regional girls basketball senior had to cover her eyes as Brianna Leonard headed to the free throw line.

But she couldn't bear to not watch either, and finally relented enough to peek through her fingers as Leonard made both free throws en route to the 49-45 overtime victory over Algonquin at the DCU Center in Worcester.

"If they lose, it feels (as bad) as if I played," DeMarchena said. "I get so nervous for these girls. I didn't want to see whether or not the shot would go in, but I had to look."

One of last year's standout players, DeMarchena suffered a knee injury during the offseason and hasn't played a minute of her senior year.

Still, she's just as much a part of the team as last year's 21-1 squad that was ousted in the western Mass. finals.

"This group of girls are all like my sisters," said DeMarchena, who had surgery on Nov. 11. "I feel like I'm winning right along with them even though I'm not playing. I'm glad I got to experience (this season) with them."

Those feelings are evident from her actions, whether it's her constant cheering on the sidelines, pep talks and advice to teammates during practice and games, and her rushed hobbling out to the court to celebrate after the team's big wins.

"She's a cocaptain for a reason. It's about her leadership, her dedication," coach Christal Murphy said. "Her attitude has always been that she wants what is best for the team.

"When she was on the court she was a great team player and when she's on the sidelines she's a great team player," Murphy added. "With Nicole, it's always about the team first. We are so lucky to have her be a part of this."

DeMarchena, who has attended every game and only missed practice when her physical therapy conflicted, helped junior center Forbasaw Nkamebo take over the role of dominant post player due to her absence.

"She was great. She gave me advice," Nkamebo said after Tuesday's win. "When other teams would go on runs, she'd tell me to keep my head up and really encouraged me."

In the state semifinal game, it was DeMarchena rallying the troops in the huddle when they trailed at halftime and again after they allowed the game-tying buzzer-beater to force overtime.

"Some of them had their heads down and were thinking the game was over," she said. "When I see that, I always try to pump them up. I focus on letting them know that even though they missed a shot or made a mistake, they had to forget it and worry about the next play."

She's the team's official statkeeper, punching everything into her iPad throughout the game, a challenge for someone running through the emotional roller coaster of Tuesday's contest.

"I enjoy (keeping the stats). Sometimes I kind of forget because I'm so into the game," she said. "I get really focused on the game. A few times, my teammates had to remind me, but I'm pretty good about it."

As a junior, DeMarchena wasn't a standout scorer, but was still selected as a Daily Hampshire Gazette first-team all-star because of her fierce play, defense and rebounding.

"She was the best rebounder I ever had the opportunity to coach," Murphy said. "She has an amazing work ethic and dedication to the sport."

An honor student, DeMarchena will attend and play basketball at Mount Holyoke College next year. She expects to be running in a few months and hopes to be playing all-out some time between late August and late October.

Mount Holyoke "has a great academic system," DeMarchena said. "They didn't have a great year this year in basketball, but hopefully next year we'll be better and hopefully I can play, so I'm pretty excited for that."

But first, she's headed back to the DCU Center in Worcester with her team and a chance at the state championship Saturday.

"This is crazy because our school hasn't made it since 1993. These girls are just extremely excited to make history. It's been so long. We were all talking about it. It's an unbelievable feeling. We have an opportunity to break an 18-year run of not winning in states."

Staff writer Matt Vautour contributed to this story.

Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.