It was nothing but net for boys’ basketball as the Tigers took a 54-41 win against Braintree Tuesday, Jan. 7 at home.
“It was a terrific win for the Tigers,” said special education teacher Paul Connolly, the head coach.
Before the first tip-off, Braintree head coach Bob Crook took center court and was honored for his recent induction into the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. For his achievement, Crook received golf balls and a new clipboard.
According to senior Nicky Spinelli, a captain with senior Teagan Swint, although North was undefeated going into the game, the experienced Braintree team was 6-1 and posed a threat to the Tigers’ winning streak.
Braintree took first possession of the ball at the start of the first quarter and swiftly ran away with the lead. North initially struggled with shooting accuracy, leading the team to fall back on a defensive strategy early on. The Tigers trailed 11-13 at the end of the quarter.
Connolly said, “we had some sloppy plays with multiple turnovers but our defense kept us steady.”
According to junior Mathaios Stamm, difficult first quarters are a typical occurrence for the team. “We definitely started off slow this time, which we’ve seen in the past, ” Stamm said. “But as the game progresses, we all usually come together more. We use a lot more energy and we just play really well as a team.”
The second quarter was a demonstration of the team’s aggression and dominance. Most notably, the team drew five fouls on Braintree, including four shooting fouls. The Tigers were also charged with three fouls of their own in the same quarter.
The game was tied at 22 points with seconds left in the half. Miraculously, at the buzzer, Swint hit a two-point shot, increasing the score to 24-22 in favor of the Tigers. For the first time in the game, North had established a lead over Braintree.
In the second half, the Tigers grew their lead exponentially through calculated rebounds and steals on both the offensive and defensive side. Stamm led the offensive rebounding, which, Spinelli said, “extended the plays and gave us more opportunities”.
Early into the third quarter, Spinelli hit a three-pointer, which Stamm said also acted as motivation for the team to work harder.
Stamm added, “He’s a focal point on the team, and when he’s doing well, I think it makes everyone do well.”
After a minor setback due to a technical foul in the fourth quarter, the Tigers bounced back with renewed energy. They continued to command a substantial lead and draw fouls on their opponents for the entire eight minutes of play time.
Out of other options and having hit their foul limit, Braintree began intentionally fouling North players in order to stop the clock and find time to score. Their plan backfired, however, as Swint repeatedly hit his free-throws and the Tigers got the final rebound.
It was a solid win for us,” Spinelli said, “everyone was giving 110 percent and really pushing.”
The Tigers, 9-0, defeated Needham and Milton. They will play Needham again at home Friday, Jan. 17.
