ARLINGTON LEAGUE STRING SNAPPED AT WINCHESTER 57-55
Winchester, MA. 2/13/18. It had to end sometime.
Arlington’s 32 game Middlesex Liberty winning streak ended last night In Winchester as the Sachems edged the Spy Ponders 57-55 in the final seconds.
While some may see this as an upset, 13-6 Winchester, highly ranked in Division 2 North, is no pushover especially at home.
Assessing the loss, Arlington coach John Bowler said, “They played hard. They played with more toughness and energy than we did. They deserved to win.”
The hosts took advantage of another sluggish Arlington start to lead 17-8 at the end of one, but the Spy Ponders closed to 32-28 by halftime, and the game stayed close to the end.
The real game started with 1:50 left when Arlington sophomore Bensley Joseph, benched with foul trouble most of the quarter, hit a jumper in the lane to pull his club even at 51.
10 seconds later Winchester senior co-captain Liam Fitzpatrick nailed a courageous three from the left corner to put the Sachems back up 54-51.
Then his Spy Ponder counterpart, senior Dom Black took over for the next 60 seconds.
First he scored on a tenacious driving lay-up in traffic. Then, on Winchester’s ensuing possession, he stole a pass at mid-court and was fouled to prevent the breakaway layup. No matter. The Arlington co-captain canned the clutch free throws to put his team up 55-54 with 21 seconds left.
Seven seconds later Sachem junior Will McCarron got the benefit of a blocking foul on Arlington junior Nick Karalis and took full advantage, making both free throws to put Winchester up for good.
The call was a game decider, but Bowler was not second-guessing. “It’s one of those calls that can go either way, or just a non-call, but it didn’t go our way, and give them credit. McCarron made the free throws. He and Fitzpatrick made huge plays for them.”
Arlington still had to like their chances, though, down just a point with the ball and 14 seconds left, but a pass from Black to Joseph was knocked down and recovered by Fitzpatrick. Black managed to foul him but with just 1.7 seconds left. Fitzpatrick made the first and purposely missed the second for the final 57-55 margin.
This game also featured an entertaining game within the game as Fitzpatrick and Black, if not the two best players in the league certainly in the conversation, went at each other mano a mano.
Both were impressive.
Black had an enormous game including a 25 point, 10 rebound double-double and, just as dangerous on defense, seven steals in five of which, Fitzpatrick was his victim.
Fitzpatrick certainly had his share of revenge, with 17 points, including a showpiece lane drive switching from his right to left hand at the rim, the icy three late in the game and, perhaps the biggest defensive play of the night on Arlington’s last possession.
Arlington made their task more difficult with foul trouble on a night when they could ill afford it with junior co-captain James Gascoigne still out with injury.
Joseph spent substantial minutes on the bench, missed too much of the fourth quarter, but still managed 15 points and nine rebounds.
Co-captain Ben Wasco was also foul hampered and scored just six points in limited action.
McCarron played a big role for Winchester scoring 15 points including consecutive threes at the end of the first half and hitting the deciding free throws at the end.
While still the top seed in Division 2 North, the Spy Ponders face three remaining games that will challenge that perch and serve them well in preparation for the MIAA Tournament.
A trip to the current second seed in Division 2 North, Belmont, is next up for Arlington at 6pm Thursday followed by an end of season tournament at Woburn where on Sunday they will face Division 1 power Needham, victors Tuesday night over top seeded Newton North.
Lowell and BC High, also highly ranked in Division 1, are the other teams in this loaded tournament.