Boys’ basketball rebounded from recent losses by defeating Braintree 60-35 Tuesday, Jan 24, in the Reggie gym. 

“It was really a very consistent effort and a good bounce back,” said special education teacher Paul Connolly, the head coach. “Our last couple of games have been a rough patch, so I’m proud of the guys for the way they responded tonight.” 

In the first quarter, North played aggressively on defense, forcing Braintree into difficult positions and eliminating possible play-making opportunities. Offensively, North took advantage of Braintree’s numerous lazy shooting fouls. Braintree still managed to keep up with North, and the quarter ended with a slim 13-12 lead for the Tigers. 

“It was really close, a one-point game at the end of the first quarter, and we all kind of chipped in to win the game together,” said senior Will Davis, a captain along with seniors Victor Caira and Jose Padilla. 

In the second quarter, North began to pull ahead with fluid ball movement and accurate shooting. The game accelerated in pace, with both teams attempting fast breaks. Braintree’s shots began to falter, allowing North to take a 31-16 lead into the halftime break. 

The Tigers gained a lot of momentum in the third quarter, which helped them to jump ahead to a 51-24 lead. Senior Matt Randall scored the first and only dunk of the game, and North put up an impressive three-point shooting performance. North also managed to compete on the boards, retrieving several offensive rebounds which helped them convert missed shots into points.  

Connolly praised the team’s collaboration and their ability to play as a collective group. “I thought we made the extra pass,” he said. “It was one of those things where guys were really unselfish, so we had the guys play away from the ball.” 

Braintree entered the fourth quarter with new energy and enthusiasm, significantly reducing their fouls and asserting dominance on offense. Still, North stayed strong defensively by implementing zone defense rather than man-to-man. 

Throughout the game, the Tigers maintained unwavering support for each other. According to Davis, unity and support are always important aspects of North’s gameplay. “Every time a shot goes in everyone’s standing up on the bench,  and every time someone’s coming down everyone’s high-fiving. We just want the team to be together.”

The Tigers, 11-3, will look to build off their recent momentum when they play Central Catholic at home Tuesday, Feb 7.