by Jake Forbes
The boys’ basketball team overcame a big challenge Friday. Jan. 27, defeating Weymouth with a final score of 71-47. North not only won their seventh game of the season, but qualified for the state tournament. The team was able to win without their senior and captain Ethan Wright.
“We had a lot of contributions from different players,” said head coach Paul Connolly. “We have what’s called the ‘Geese’ mentality, where everybody works together and gets credit.”
The game was tight throughout the first quarter, as North held onto a one possession lead for the majority of the quarter. Many players contributed to North’s efforts, while Weymouth was carried by senior Josh Chery. Chery, who led his team, scored nine points in the first quarter.
The turning point was in the second quarter when North made five shots from beyond the arc. The team scored 25 points in the second quarter. This pulled north away, leading to their victory.
Weymouth went on a little run late in the third quarter, as they drove to the paint for several layups. However, that run ended after a technical foul on Weymouth’s junior Cameron Mason, and several sloppy turnovers.
The centerpiece of the game was junior Noah Neville. With nine points during the Tiger’s run in the second, Neville finished with 19 points. According to Connolly, although Neville’s game might be short of flawless, “he’s playing such a great, solid brand of basketball.”
Other impressive contributions came from sophomore Kyle Ray-Canada, who finished the night with 13 points. He made three buckets from deep land, and was the only player in double-figures that didn’t get to the stripe. Wright, who is currently sidelined for two to three weeks, described the sophomore as a “spark off the bench.”