By Max Clifford
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Dover-Sherborn and St. Mary’s High School had both ends of the gym rocking in the first round of the MIAA Divison III boys’ basketball postseason tournament last Friday night. Hosting St. Mary’s took the game down to the wire, but a defensive stop to end the game sent the Raiders home with a 47-46 victory.
In the early goings of the first quarter, Dover-Sherborn’s Theo Allan knocked down a three-pointer and put down a layup on a breakaway to flip a 6-2 St. Mary’s lead into a 7-6 advantage for the Raiders. Led by sophomore Javihan Martinez, the Spartans came right back with a 10-1 run to close out the quarter.
Down eight to open the second, Dover-Sherborn’s Mason Melchionda cuffed a three to get the Raiders started on offense. Three minutes later, Jonathan Windle knocked down a three of his own to cut the score to 17-14. Windle went on to add a pair of free throws and another triple from near the logo to pull within two, 21-19, with two minutes left to play.
The teams traded free throws to close out the first half, sending St. Mary’s into the intermission with a less-than-comfortable 23-20 advantage.
The Spartan lead got a good deal more comfortable courtesy of a 5-0 run to open the third period. With his team needing an offensive spark Melchionda went to work, knocking down a three and capitalizing on a Windle steal under the hoop to pull the Raiders within six, 31-25.
Windle, Gavin Lynch, and Brian Olson each contributed a bucket down low to pull D-S within two points after three quarters of play. In the opening minute of the fourth, Melchionda splashed another momentous three-pointer to give his team their first lead since 7-6.
The teams traded haymakers and defensive stops throughout the opening minutes of the fourth, but as the clock ticked down towards the three minute mark, corner threes from Melchionda and Lynch gave the Raiders 45-37 lead, their largest of the game.
As they did all evening, St. Mary’s turned to Martinez for a response. The sophomore went on a tear, scorign six of his team’s seven points to pull the Spartans within a point, 47-46, with 30 seconds remaining in the game.
A pair of missed Dover-Sherborn free throws gave St. Mary’s a glimmer of hope on the final possession, but Martinez’ attempt at a game-winner came up just short.
When asked about what it took to take home a low-scoring victory in a win-or-go-home game, Lynch said “The emphasis of our team is just to be gritty, work hard, and out-tough teams. They might have been more talented but we definitely brought more effort and that’s why we won today.”
With the win, the Raiders advanced to face Apponequet Regional in the round of 16. That game was played on Wednesday evening.
