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Photos Kevin Mullaney
Junior forward Nate Norgeot and senior Mark Munroe defending against Falmouth Saturday night. Brett Conrad is in foreground. |
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Senior forward Mark Munroe evades a trap in the offensive zone. |
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Warriors vanquished by Falmouth in semi-final
By Kevin Mullaney
Banner Correspondent
Hopes were high that the third time would be a charm when the Nauset boys basketball team hosted Falmouth in the Div. 2 South Sectional quarterfinal Friday night. Two of Nauset’s three losses this season were to their ACL rival. The Warriors took a one-point (30-29) lead into the half, but it was Falmouth who prevailed, 72-61. That team will now move on to the semifinal against Catholic Memorial.
“Very high energy,” described Nauset coach Keith Arnold. “We had played twice — two league teams, two Cape teams. It was the perfect atmosphere.”
The game was physical from the outset, with both teams forcing turnovers and taking a beating. Nauset jumped out to an 18-11 lead after one quarter, but the well-rounded Clippers went on a 10-3 run to tie the score at 21 with five minutes to the half. The teams traded points until a buzzer-beater by forward Brett Conrad gave the Warriors the one-point lead. Nauset’s last lead was 35-33, midway through the third period. Falmouth’s outside shooting pulled them ahead by six, 45-39, at the end of the quarter, and although Nauset pulled within two, 52-50, halfway through the fourth, Falmouth’s foul shooting down the stretch iced the win.
“We got in foul trouble and tried to save kids,” Arnold said. “We got a little out of sync.” Conrad led all scorers with 23 points. Brendan Scalley scored 15, including four three-pointers, and Mark Munroe scored 10. Center Connor Seymour was held to only four points, Mike Quill three and Jon Rouillard, Nate Norgeot and Brandon Murphy scored two each.
Nauset ends the season 18-4 and already coach Arnold is looking toward next year. Seymour and Munroe will graduate, but most of the team stays intact.
“Brett came a long way,” he said of Conrad, who averaged 17 points and seven rebounds a game. “He improved immensely physically.” Coach Arnold also remarked on the improvement in the perimeter shooting of Brendan Scalley and the hustle of point guard Mike Quill. “He’s a fierce competitor,” Arnold said.
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PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
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Mar 6th, 2008