Boys’ basketball, 10-3, defeated Needham 53-35 at home Friday night in the annual A Shot For Life game, ending the Rockets’ undefeated season.
“We were really hyped for this one and had a lot of energy knowing [the Rockets] were undefeated,” senior Ethan Wright, a captain along with seniors Thomas Byrne and Noah Neville said. He added that “It was a great experience to play and win against such a great opponent.”
The game got off to a slow start as both offenses struggled, but it picked up towards the end of the first quarter with several key plays from Wright, including two three-pointers.
The Tigers’ commanding 31-22 lead at the half quickly faded away as Needham went on a 10-0 run. However, Neville silenced the Needham fans by making a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
Despite scoring only five points in the third quarter, Neville helped out on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. When describing his teammate’s work ethic, Wright said, “Noah’s been working his butt off all season, and it’s really starting to show. When he’s playing well and attacking, we’re a monumentally better team.”
With just under a minute remaining in the game, Wright threw down a dunk that made the crowd electric. “It was awesome,” said Wright. “There’s no better feeling.”
The dunk sealed the deal for the Tigers, as Neville and Wright had a combined total of 39 points, accounting for 74% of North’s points.