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By Josh Perry
Hometown Weekly Staff
With just 15 seconds remaining in Sunday’s Div. 2 Central semifinal at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Medfield senior point guard Evan Howells pulled up for a jumper that brought Big Blue within one of Marlboro.
After a pair of missed free throws, Medfield got the ball back and called timeout with 7.2 seconds left. The ball ended up in the hands of Howell, who scored 14 points in the game, but his long-range shot caromed off the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded.
It was a good look, but it would not fall and Marlboro, which has been ranked in the top 20 in the state for most of the season, escaped with a 59-58 win.
“It was just a great, great high school basketball game,” said Medfield coach Herb Grace. “A typical tournament atmosphere, two great teams going at it hard and I’m very, very proud of the guys and the effort they put in.”
About the final shot, Grace said, “We had a good look there, Evan played a great game, and it just didn’t fall.”
Coming into the game, all eyes were on Marlboro’s star sophomore Chris Doherty. Although he did not start, Doherty was off the bench within the first minute and made his presence felt with a tip dunk on a missed layup.
He finished the game with 11 points and eight boards, but Medfield never allowed him to take over.
The combination of Chris McGrory (eight points, seven rebounds) and John Madej (four points and 10 rebounds) held the big man mostly in check.
“He’s a handful but my big guys can play too,” said Grace. “I thought they did an outstanding job. They have the size, they have the attitude, and the toughness.”
Big Blue stayed right with the Panthers thanks in part to three-point shooting. John Williams (team-high 15 points) had five threes on the game, Jake Dubbs (nine points) knocked down three and Howells had a pair as well.
“It probably was his best game,” said Grace of Howells. “I told him afterwards that it was a great shot and he’s going to look back on his last high school game and have good memories when it’s all said and done.”
Marlboro knocked down a long three at the buzzer to take a 28-25 lead into halftime and threatened to pull away in the third, eventually building its lead to as many as nine points (40-31), but Medfield battled back.
McGrory started the 9-0 run with a layup followed by a three from Williams and a drive to the basket by Howells. Big Blue tied the game on an offensive rebound and layup from McGrory.
Marlboro closed the third with six straight points, but Medfield again cut the lead with Howells knocking one down from beyond the arc and Matt Johnson coming off the bench to score all six of his points in the fourth, including a pull-up jumper that gave Medfield a 56-55 lead.
Joao Mendes (game-high 25 points) had a steal and layup that put Marlboro up three inside the final minute, but Howell answered with a jumper that made it a one-point game again.
Big Blue had one last chance at the win, but it was not to be for the Tri-Valley league champs.
“I told my guys in the locker room, this senior class was very successful at all levels,” Grace said, “I told the younger guys lets try to get back here again next year…but we’re going to have to put the work in.”
“It’s just emotional, it’s a grind, and it’s tough, but hopefully we can back here next year. Overall, it’s been a memorable year.”
Josh Perry is an Editor at Hometown Weekly. He can be reached at news@hometownweekly.net and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.
