WHITMAN – Tears were shed by some in the aftermath.
The rock-solid Nauset Regional High School boys’ basketball team’s season ended Wednesday night in the opening round of the Division 2 South Sectionals as the host Whitman-Hanson Five outlasted the Warriors, and eliminated them, 65-57.
The Nauset Warriors were eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday night by Whitman-Hanson, 65-57.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports file photo
“I’m very happy with the season,” Nauset head coach John “Mac” McCarthy said after the tough loss. “Extremely. I’m so proud of the team… my son was crying after the game because they (Warriors) made him feel like he was part of it. We created a family… (something) special… I love these guys.”
McCarthy’s Warriors (12-9) staked themselves an 11-9 lead after the first quarter, but the 6th-seeded Whitman-Hanson squad jumped ahead in the second quarter and it was ahead the hosts would stay as they took a 24-21 edge into the locker room at halftime.
By the end of three frames, it was 43-37, Whitman-Hanson and Nauset just couldn’t seem to break that barrier to climb back in.
One reason could have been the 23-30 performance at the charity stripe by the hosts, 13-17 of which came in the fourth quarter, almost an unheard of number for a tournament match-up.
Nauset’s Marc Takajian made every attempt to help Nauset climb back into it with a 10-point, 4th quarter performance that bordered on the heroic. He finished the night with 14 points, all of which came in the second half.
Senior Ethan “Big Red” Ladue finished with a team-high 16 points, half of which came in the second quarter but every time a Warrior would get the hot hand, Whitman-Hanson would adjust and close that hand down.
Nick Meehan nailed a pair of inspirational fourth quarter three-pointers but still it was not enough as it appeared there was a revolving door at the Whitman-Hanson foul line.
Josh Rice finished with a game-high 18 points for the hosts while teammate Cole Manning ended with 15 points. Nick Smith and Mitchell Kinney ended with 10 and 11 points, respectively.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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