THE HORNETS celebrate Logan Scribner’s 3-pointer which gave the team a 50-49 lead with six seconds left during a thrilling road win against their rivals on Friday night. (Eric Evans Photo)
LYNNFIELD — Another boys’ basketball classic between two rivals ended with a thrilling 50-49 North Reading victory over Lynnfield on Friday night.
Trailing by 9 points with just over 5 minutes to play, the Hornets rallied back.
Down two with the clock winding down, Logan Scribner knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with six seconds left off a pass from Alex Carucci, giving the visitors their first lead since early in the first quarter sending the Hornet faithful into pandemonium.
Lynnfield’s final attempt, a long triple, bounced off the rim, giving NR the dramatic victory.
“I’m proud of the kids for their perseverance,” said head coach Joe Casey. “We could have rolled over a couple of times and didn’t. We got so many terrific efforts from a lot of guys. Once again, our defense kept us in it when we were struggling offensively in the first half. Just a terrific high school basketball environment.”
The Pioneers entered the game at 7-3 while the Hornets were 6-3, making that environment electric from the start.
Lynnfield took control in the first quarter thanks in large part to an active 2-3 zone which bothered the Hornet offense as the first ended 10-5 Lynnfield.
The defensive struggle continued into the second quarter with the score 19-12 at halftime.
Action picked up in the 3rd with both teams shooting better.
The Hornets tied the game 25-25 halfway through the 3rd with Parker Griffin providing a spark off the bench with 4 points. A huge Sam Morelli rebound off a missed foul shot and two free throws tied the game.
The Pioneers took a 36-33 lead into the final quarter.
Trailing by 9 with five minutes left, NR went on a 7-0 run propelled by a Carucci 3, two Scribner foul shots and a pretty layup by Andrew Boulas to cut the deficit to two with four minutes left.
Matt Guidebeck hit a baseline jumper and later got to the line. His second free throw missed but was rebounded by Morelli who found a cutting Carucci to cut it to a one-point LHS lead with 1:28 left.
Lynnfield hit one of two free throws for a 49-47 lead with 26 seconds left and after Carucci handled a tough inbounds pass, he found Scribner for the biggest shot of the season to date.
The Hornets were helped at the foul line where they went 14-for-22 while Lynnfield was 12-for-26. North Reading also had a season-high 22 turnovers.
“It wasn’t pretty at times but we hung in there and found a way to get the W,” said Casey.
Scribner and Carucci led all Hornet scorers with 11 points each. Guidebeck had his second double double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hornets improved to 8-3 on the season when they beat Rockport on the road, 83-45 on Tuesday night. North Reading took a commanding 15-0 lead to start the game and never looked back, getting good contributions from all 11 who played.
The Hornets had three players in double figures. Freshman Jason Berry led all scorers with 18 points followed by 15 from Carucci and 11 from Scribner.
North Reading will return home on Friday night at 7 p.m. with a three-game winning streak in tact to welcome in Newburyport (7-5). It’s a huge game as the teams are tied for first in the CAL Kinney Division with 6-2 league records.
