Published in the December 29, 2016 edition
SENIOR Cam Davis puts up a shot in the lane during last weekend’s game against Pentucket. (John Friberg Photo)
By DAN NUNN
Sack Sachems 63-56
NORTH READING — The Hornets boys’ basketball team opened its home schedule with a 63-56 victory over Cape Ann League foe Pentucket on Dec. 20.
Senior Mike McCauley was the leading scorer with 11 points. Senior Bob O’Donnell was once again a monster on the glass with 14 rebounds to go along with eight points.
North Reading got off to a slow start and were down 6-3 at the 3:30 mark of the first quarter. But a 3-pointer from senior Cam Davis propelled the Hornets on an 11-3 run to close out the first and gave them a 14-9 lead after one.
Early on in the second quarter the Sachems battled back to within two at 16-14. But once again North Reading responded. The Hornets closed the quarter on a 20-10 run to take a 36-24 halftime lead. Two minutes into the third quarter the lead was 40-26. But sloppy play on both ends of the floor allowed Pentucket to claw back to within six at 47-41 by the end of the quarter.
But North Reading turned up its defense to start the fourth quarter and got rolling. The Hornets opened the quarter on 14-2 run to open up a 61-43 lead at 5:20. The Sachems tried to battle back but the lead proved insurmountable and the Hornets hung on for the 63-56 win.
Escape Triton with 63-62 win
The Hornets earned their second one-point victory of the season, defeating the Triton Vikings 63-62 Thursday.
Senior Anthony Maldonado was the high scorer with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. O’Donnell had 10 points and 13 rebounds. He is averaging 18 rebounds a game.
The Hornets were down 7-0 early in the first quarter. But they battled back and a late Davis three brought them within 14-13 at the end of one.
The second quarter was a disaster. Triton went up by as many as nine and only a late 3-pointer from junior Burke Riesenberg cut the halftime deficit down to 34-28. In the third quarter Maldonado had eight points and the Vikings’ lead was down to 49-48 at the end of three.
One minute into the fourth the Hornets took their first lead and with 35 seconds left they were up by five. The final 35 seconds proved to be wild. First North Reading threw the ball away which led to a Triton three to cut the lead to 63-61.
On the next possession the Vikings forced another steal and earned free throws. Triton hit the first foul shot but missed the second which O’Donnell rebounded and got fouled. O’Donnell missed the front end of the one-and-one but Riesenberg grabbed the rebound and got fouled. Riesenberg also missed the front end, which senior Jackson Tormey tracked down and got fouled.
The third time was not the charm as Tormey missed and after a scramble on floor for the rebound the ball appeared to go out of bounds off the Vikings. But the referee ruled it was Triton’s ball giving them one last chance. On the ensuing possession the Vikings tossed up a three which hit the rim and just bounced out, giving the Hornets the heart-stopping victory.
