WORCESTER – The Norwell boys basketball team craved a chance at revenge since the moment it lost to Taconic in overtime in last year’s Div. 3 state quarterfinals.
Now, it’s just one win away from the only thing missing in a picture-perfect season.
Behind a well-balanced effort that saw eight different players star in small moments Tuesday night, the second-seeded Clippers (24-0) pieced together the program’s first trip to the state final with a 65-46 Div. 3 state semifinal win over No. 6 Taconic at Worcester North High School.
Senior Ronan Coffey (18 points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals) led all scorers as Norwell’s chief playmaker, while sophomore Charlie Williams (11 points, five rebounds), senior Nick Adams (nine points, nine rebounds) and sophomore Jack Luccarelli (eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks) also played leading critical roles.
A matchup against No. 20 Old Rochester for all the glory is next at the Tsongas Center, and the Clippers head in with emotional momentum.
“We’ve had this game on our mind since the end of last year,” Coffey said. “All season, we’ve been working towards how that last game felt. Now, especially, to come back here one round later and get matched up with (Taconic), we knew what we had to do. It just lit an extra fire in us.”
Much of what cost Norwell last year was a notable size disadvantage, and the Thunder boasted two dangerous, lengthy big men again in Martin Boua (12 points, 16 rebounds, seven blocks) and Kyle McGrath (eight points, 10 rebounds). But with a chaotic defensive presence that forced 12 Thunder turnovers in the first half, as well as a 20-point second quarter, the Clippers built a 47-34 lead entering the break.
Eight combined steals and timely 3-pointers played a big part of it. As did a relentless effort to produce on the inside on both ends.
“We can rebound now, that was sort of our Achilles heel last year,” said Norwell head coach John Willis. “They’re some tough, tough kids. Not only physically, but mentally, too. Every time they’ve taken a shot from a team this year, we’ve met the challenge.”
“We have two or three of the best bigs that I know,” Coffey added. “I know that when they get matched up with (other top big men), they’re going to do their job.”
Williams drilled three 3-pointers in the first half. Adams played gritty on the inside to pull down five offensive rebounds. Luccarelli played tough on the inside for clutch stops and rebounds. Oliver Rice’s tough box-outs and an and-one finish lifted Norwell out of a third-quarter lull, Nick Fein (seven points) had two steals and a layup at the horn to cap a 10-2 run to close the first half, and Keegan O’Hare (six points) drilled a momentous 3-pointer in the stretch.
That doesn’t even mention Coffey’s 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line in the second half to never let Taconic back within a seven-point deficit, nor Will Bostrom’s all-around play on both ends.
“We’ve had eight guys lead us in scoring this year, a lot of people don’t realize that,” Willis said. “We’re a complete team.”
“Everyone on this team makes plays,” Coffey added. “We’re not five kids on this team, we’re not six kids. … Anyone who gets in will make plays. It’s just awesome to know that anyone who’s in here is going to make a play.”
Ceasar Santos led Taconic in scoring with 15 points before fouling out in the final minute. McGrath got into foul trouble with his fourth in the third quarter.
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