(Byfield MA) Nick Daly’s runner from the right gave Pentucket the lead with three seconds left.
Triton responded with a set play.
It nearly won the game for them at the buzzer.
“Nine out of ten times that shot goes in,” said Pentucket head coach Ed Hickey post-game. “It was run well, and we were lucky it didn’t work.”
As a result, the relieved Sachems had their first win of the season, 47-46.
“Alden (Lentz) threw a great inbounds lob pass,” recalled Triton coach Ted Schruender of the final play. “Dylan (Wilkinson) came off a nice backscreen by Quintin McHale, but it just didn’t work out.”
It was catch-and-shoot for Dylan and “at a tough angle,” added Coach Hickey.
The Sachems (1-2) managed to lead at the end of every quarter but hardly dominated within each quarter.
There were lead changes in every quarter totaling eleven for the game. Three happened during the last two minutes of regulation.
Consecutive inside scores by Kyle Odoy, Travis Overbaugh, Quintin McHale, and Nick Dupuis pushed the Vikings ahead, 44-40, with three minutes left in the game.
Pentucket responded with a rebound basket by Michael Perlitch and a three from the right by Nick Daly with 1:47 remaining to retake the lead, 45-44.
After turnovers by both teams, Travis Overbaugh cashed an offensive rebound with eighteen seconds left putting Triton on top, 46-45.
On Pentucket’s final possession, Triton switched to a man-to-man and junior Nick Daly ended up with the ball on the right side with the clock running out.
“I was going to take a three,” explained Nick post-game,” but I saw an opening to get to the hoop. The shot hit a lot of rim but went in.”
“I thought that Quintin had great position on that last play,” recalled Triton coach Ted Schruender. “He (Nick Daly) made a tough shot. Quintin may have tipped the shot, but it still went in.”
Triton (3-5) had good looks, especially in the first half, but couldn’t make enough shots to gain separation.
Pentucket struggled to get high percentage shots most of the game.
“We played well,” said Coach Schruender, “but they hit shots at the end of the shot clock that were tough shots.”
“Triton caused a lot of turnovers and it got them some easy hoops,” said Coach Hickey.
The Sachems struck from beyond the arc seven times including four times in the first quarter.
Junior Che Condon paced Pentucket with fourteen points including three 3’s. Nick Daly added ten points.
Quintin McHale (12 points) and Dylan Wilkinson (11 points) led Triton.
Senior Travis Overbaugh had nine points for Triton including two layups off steals in the second half.
Coach Hickey: “Being in quarantine for two weeks really set us back. We’re getting better and the kids are really working hard.”
Nick Daly: (On the last play) “That last play was close. The pass went over my head and when I looked the shot was falling out.”
Pentucket had six games postponed during their quarantine time. They are scheduled to play their final five games in an eight-day span.
“We don’t mind the games being packed in at the end,” said Coach Hickey. “The kids just want to play them.”
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