Marblehead boys basketball outlasts Pembroke to advance to Sweet 16
The Marblehead High boys basketball team (14-4, 10th seed) couldn’t have been in a more competitive game to begin the Division 2 state tournament at home against Pembroke (12-9, 23rd seed) in a Round of 32 game, but they were able to prevail in the end, 60-57.
The Magicians now move on to the Sweet 16, while awaiting the winner of the Pope Francis-Nauset game (March 3, 5 p.m.).
The Marblehead boys led at halftime, 27-26. The second half was a mirror image of this back-and-forth game, before Isaiah Makor sealed the deal with two free throws with seconds left on the clock to put his teammates up by five. Pembroke was credited with a bucket at the buzzer to account for the final score.
Makor ended up with 10 points, while Ryan Commoss paced the attack with 16 points. Nick Lemmond had 12, and Tryone Countrymon was close behind with 11. Miles O’Neill chipped in with seven. He could have had two more, but his attempted slam that could have nailed down the win before Makor’s clutch free throws clanged off the rim.
Pembroke was ahead by three, 46-43, with 5:43 left in the game on a Brady Spencer jumper. But O’Neill’s grit underneath the boards produced a hard-fought basket, followed by a free throw that tied up the proceedings for his teammates. Commoss then untied it, and the home team never trailed from that point on.
Marblehead Boys basketball Miles O’Neill goes up for a dunk in a game against Pembroke in Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead prevailed, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDFans, coaches and players let their emotions run wild as Marblehead’s Nicholas Lemmond looks to pass in the last few seconds of the boys basketball game against Pembroke in a Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDMarblehead’s Tyrone Countrymon is swarmed by Pembroke’s Noah Petillo and Jace Wilson as the Magicians’ boys basketball team plays Pembroke in a Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDMarblehead’s Scott Campbell goes for a loose ball in the boys basketball team’s game against Pembroke in the Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game Thursday, March at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDMarblehead’s Tyrone Countrymon looks to pass in Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDMarblehead fans show their support as the boys basketball team plays Pembroke in the Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYDMarblehead’s Nicholas Lemmond gets fired up during a Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game against Pembroke Thursday, March 2 at Marblehead High School. Marblehead beat Pembroke, 60-57. CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD
