NEEDHAM — In the common season’s closing weeks, Catholic Memorial’s expertise has shined by means of.
Peter Gellene scored 23 factors whereas Malachi Bryant added 18 extra as No. 5 Catholic Memorial overcame a ferocious effort from No. 8 Needham to select up a 69-63 boys basketball street win on Thursday night time at Needham High School.
Catholic Memorial (17-2) completed the sport on a 12-2 run over the past 3:30. The spurt helped the Knights overcome a night by which they surrendered 30 offensive rebounds.
“We have guys who have been there before because of our state tournament run last year,” Catholic Memorial coach Denis Tobin mentioned. “Peter Gellene, Matthew St. Martin, Brady McGowan, those guys have been there. Then it helps when you have a player like Malachi to close it out.”
The sides have been tied at 36 coming into the third quarter however Needham grabbed the lead. Henry Bickford related on a three-point play to push the Rockets’ benefit to 6, 50-44. After 5 straight from the Knights, Jackson Shaw related on a robust lefty layup on the buzzer to present Needham a 52-49 lead hanging into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets’ relentless assault on the offensive glass allowed them to take care of their lead for the primary 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. An offensive rebound by Bickford led to a three-point play and after Gellene accomplished his personal layup by means of contact, a second likelihood alternative for the Rockets led to a triple by Campbell Keyes to place Needham up 61-57 with 3:10 left.
Catholic Memorial, nonetheless, discovered the final burst. Two free throws from Corey Dolison tied the sport and when Needham missed a 3rd likelihood at a three-pointer, St. Martin secured the defensive rebound and hit two free throws to place the Knights up 65-63 with 38 seconds remaining.
Consecutive stops and 4 free throws from Bryant and St. Martin sealed the win for Catholic Memorial.
“It was a terrific high school game,” Tobin mentioned. “Needham played great but our guys to their credit found a way.”
Needham got here out on hearth to begin the sport because the Rockets drilled 5 first-quarter triples to go in entrance 23-12.
The Rockets stretched their result in as many as 15 early within the second quarter however the Knights labored their approach again within the sport. Dolison had a pair of baskets, Bryant hit a triple, and Gellene related on two pullups as a part of a 21-6 run for the guests that tied the sport at 36 going into halftime.
Source: www.bostonherald.com