WESTWOOD — Needham’s protection got here up with a number of late large stops to assist raise the Rockets to 59-54 victory over Xaverian Saturday night.
The Hawks and the Rockets only a few days in the past met at Needham in an early season non-league matchup, with Needham pulling out the 62-53 victory. Being again at house, the Hawks seemed to get some vengeance.
Not like the primary assembly, the Hawks had management of the sport, however the Rockets stayed inside hanging distance.
All through the night time, the 2 groups continued to play a sport of tug of battle with neither group giving the opposite an inch.
“We simply performed with coronary heart,” stated head coach Paul Liner.
Within the first half the 4 factors have been the most important margin when Xaverian opened the second quarter with a 4-0 run to take a 16-11 lead.
The groups exchanged baskets the remainder of the quarter with Xaverian going into the half with a 26-25 lead.
Popping out the second half the groups continued to commerce blows, after the Rockets took a 32-30 lead Xaverian responded with a 15-5 run to finish the quarter to take a 45-37 lead.
Within the fourth quarter the Rockets went on a 6-0 run to start out the fourth, their protection started to frustrate Xaverian as they outscored the Hawks 22-9.
Ben Marino and Matthew Cloonan have been instrumental for the Rockets fourth quarter. Trailing 50-47 Marinon knocked tied issues up at 50 with a 3 pointer
“I wasn’t hitting pictures within the first half however all of them have the belief in me,” stated Marino
Cloonan, the senior captain, gave the Rockets the lead on a layup, from there on Needham made the mandatory performs to drag out the win.
“All of us play with coronary heart,” stated Marino. “We didn’t have it within the first half, didn’t have it for many of the third quarter however we got here out within the fourth quarter we knew we had coronary heart.”
First, Foster Wilinski broke a 52-52 sport with an and one alternative, Wilinsky couldn’t convert the free however after Xaverians Andrew Dean missed two potential sport tying free throws, Wilinski knocked down the free throws on his subsequent two makes an attempt to make it a 56-54 sport.
“Subsequent play mentality we preach that on a regular basis,” stated Liner. “By no means hand over.”
Xaverian had a chance to tie issues at 57 however the Rockets protection got here up with the massive cease to seal the sport.
“We simply performed rather well as a group,” stated Liner.
This matchup had a event really feel to it and will presumably foreshadow a 3rd matchup within the state event.
“They wished this win badly, we wished it unhealthy as nicely,” stated Marino. “We’ve already seen them, they’ve already seen us so it’s a number of sport plan in between that’s why this ambiance is so nice.”
