I wondered what would happen when Arlington met up with some serious height especially with one of their "bigs" out with an injury. Here is the answer.
ARLINGTON ADVANCES TO COMCAST/I.A.A.B.O. TOURNAMENT FINALS IN OVERTIME
If the Arlington boys basketball team wanted some tough pre-playoff challenges in the past week-end’s Comcast/I.A.A.B.O tournament at Malden Catholic, they got exactly what they hoped for.
The Spy Ponders survived defending champ Marlborough in overtime Sunday afternoon 59-54 to move on to Monday night’s final against Malden Catholic.
It was not easy.
To get past Marlborough, Arlington had to contend with the Panthers towering (6’8”) Chris Doherty, a legit division 1 prospect. The agile big man was a force in the offensive paint all night scoring on layups and baby hooks with either hand on his way to a game high 23 points despite being double and triple teamed by the smaller Spy Ponders.
And on defense his looming presence turned Arlington’s patented lane driving offense into a dangerous mission. Stationed in the middle of their effective 2-3 zone he allowed his four teammates to be unconcerned about what happened behind them and take constant gambles, get in the passing lanes and trap at will.
Their defense created a dismal three point third quarter for Arlington in which they did to Arlington precisely what the Spy Ponders have done to their opponents all season causing six turnovers and a quarter full of empty possessions.
By the end of the third Arlington’s 8-point lead had disappeared.
With five minutes to go in the game Doherty converted a thunderous two-hand jam off a lob pass to take Marlborough to a 41-35 lead and all the momentum; very unfamiliar territory for the Spy Ponders.
But Arlington came back.
In a momentum shifting play freshman Bensley Joseph, who led the Spy Ponders with 17 points and several key steals, stole a pass, went full court for the layup, was fouled and converted a 3-point play
With 2 minutes to go and his team down 45-43 senior co-captain Colin McNamara (12 points) calmly sank a three from the right elbow to put the Spy Ponders back up by one.
Less than a minute later, Panther junior guard Kevin Short sank a three-point answer to re-take the lead 48-46 at 1:10.
On the succeeding possession, an untimely Arlington turnover gave the ball back to Marlboro leading by 2 with 40 seconds left, and the game in their hands.
But somehow the Spy Ponders pulled it out. Joseph alertly snagged an errant Marlborough pass and found a streaking junior Dom Black ahead of the pack at half court. Black (11 points) sprinted in for the breakaway layup to knot it at 48.
With 18 seconds left Arlington had one last chance, and McNamara narrowly missed ending it in regulation. His floater in the lane hit the back rim and bounced out as the buzzer sounded.
In the overtime Arlington regained control of this wild affair. Joseph hit a three to make it 53-50.
Then with 1:50 left sophomore guard Nick Karalis (6 points) inserted the dagger with a three pointer from the left corner making it a two-possession game.
Finally, Joseph ended the struggle with yet another steal at mid-court. His uncontested layup made it 59-52 with 25 seconds left.
Things will not get any easier for Arlington tomorrow night with the final happening on MC’s home court. The game is a chance for some payback. The Lancers eliminated Arlington from the state tournament last year.