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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
On December 30, the Medfield High School varsity basketball team traveled to Millis and took down the Mohawks 62-56 in a back-and-forth bout. The Warriors (8-4, 8-2) hosted the Mohawks on Friday evening for the second and final time in 2016-2017, and despite a late rally by Millis, the Warriors were able to prevail 58-57 thanks to an incredible two-point buzzer-beater by junior center John Lowell.
The Warriors got off to a fast start with their incredible ability to spread the floor and have their speedsters, sophomore guard Stephen Williams and junior guard Jake Dubbs, drive the lane and convert difficult layups with defenders in their faces. Along with Dubbs and Williams showcasing strong abilities to drive to the basket, the Warriors were also sharp from beyond the arc in the first half, knocking down six of 10 three-point attempts before the break. Following an 11-2 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter, Medfield sported a 36-19 lead at the half and were well in complete control.
The second half was a different story for the Warriors, however, as the Mohawks turned to a full-court press style of defensive play and were able to force multiple turnovers by Medfield in the backcourt. The aggressive defensive style by Millis led to the Mohawks trimming the Warrior lead from 17 at the half to 12 at the end of three, making it 50-38.
Millis continued to find success with their full-court press in the fourth quarter, going on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 54 with 1:44 to play. A timeout by Medfield head coach Herb Grace with just under a minute and a half to play proved to be pivotal, as the Warriors were able to regroup and catch their breath following the miraculous comeback by Millis. Both teams traded missed opportunities in the final two minutes, but the Mohawks were able to take a one-point lead with under 30 seconds to play, thanks to a pair of made free throws.
The Warriors countered by spreading the ball up the floor rapidly before finally giving it to John Lowell in the paint. Lowell turned, dribbled once, pulled up and sank a shot at the buzzer to give Medfield the 58-57 win, sending the gym into a frenzy and creating a huge sigh of relief.
The Warriors will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Hopkinton on January 27 before hitting the road again to face archrival Dover-Sherborn on January 31.
