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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Ever since their incredible run to a Division I South crown in 2017, much of the talk around the Bay State when it comes to boys high school basketball has revolved around Thomas Shaughnessy and the Needham High School Rockets.
On Wednesday, Needham returned to the scene of their sectional championship last March at Taunton High School after living up to high expectations and winning the Bay State Conference with a 17-3 record. Unfortunately for the Rockets, this year’s trip to Taunton did not end with the same result as the one they made in 2017.
After winning their opening round (66-53 vs. Taunton) and quarterfinal round (82-48 vs. New Bedford) contests with relative ease, the No. 2-seeded Rockets (19-4) hung tough with a significantly bigger Brockton team on Tuesday. However, the No. 3 Boxers (20-4) were lights-out at the free-throw line (14 of 17) and their size advantage ultimately was too much for Needham to handle, as Brockton knocked out the defending south sectional champion Rockets by a final of 69-60.
Unlike most teams that Needham has played this season, Brockton was able to limit reigning Massachusetts Player of the Year and Globe All-Scholastic recipient Thomas Shaughnessy to just five points in the first half, largely thanks to constantly double-teaming and pressuring the Brown-bound point guard.
Despite being held to just five points in the first half, Shaughnessy still finished with a game-high 23 and recorded five assists. Brandon Monheimer scored 17 and shot 4 of 7 on three-pointers.
Brockton began the game on a 17-8 run and took an 18-10 lead into the second quarter. The Boxers began the second frame with a quick 5-0 run to extend their lead to 23-10. After Brockton went ahead 25-12, Needham responded with a 12-2 run, much thanks to Monheimer, who put home a pair of layups and knocked down a three-pointer as Needham trimmed the deficit to just three at 27-24. The run forced the Boxers to call a timeout.
Following the timeout, Brockton responded with a 6-0 run of their own to finish the quarter and took a 33-24 lead into halftime.
The Rockets fought back during the early minutes of the second half and cut the deficit to just three at 33-30 after a three-pointer and free throw by Shaughnessy, as well as a layup by junior forward Matt Smith. Unfortunately for Needham, the Boxers responded with an 18-5 run to go back ahead by double digits at 51-38. They led 53-41 at the end of three quarters.
Needham stormed back in the fourth quarter with a 13-5 run to cut the deficit to four points at 58-54 with just over three minutes remaining in the game following a three-pointer by Shaughnessy. However, following a Needham turnover, Brockton’s Marcus Azor (16 points) put home a layup and-one with 1:15 to play to stretch the Boxer lead to 61-54. Brockton iced away the game by hitting six of their seven free throw attempts during the final minute, and went on to win by the 69-60 final.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
