LYNNFIELD — Heartbreaking is the best word to describe the Lynnfield boys basketball team’s 54-53 loss to Cape Ann League rival North Reading Friday night.
The Pioneers trailed the Hornets the entire night before taking a one-point lead in the final 30 seconds.
From there Lynnfield had a pair of 1-and-1 chances to try to extend its lead but missed both free throws. A late foul put North Reading at the line and William Taylor took full advantage, sinking both of his shots to win the game for the Hornets.
“This is a game that 100 percent they gave us opportunities,” Lynnfield coach Scott MacKenzie said. “We went up one and we had two 1-and-1 situations and we couldn’t convert. Then we get a hand-check foul on the backcourt with four seconds left and they convert. Quite honestly we had multiple opportunities to win the game, we just didn’t take them.”
Another bad offensive night also left the Pioneers frustrated. Lynnfield had a great day on the glass and grabbed plenty of offensive rebounds but the Pioneers couldn’t get their shots to fall.
“We took 71 shots (Friday) and scored 53 points,” MacKenzie said. “We shoot so terribly from the floor so our strategy is to attack the offensive glass. We just can’t convert. I think a team that even shoots average is scoring in the 70’s (Friday). It’s tough. But this is very normal for us. Very par for the course.”
Despite the loss Clayton Marengi had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Khad Connell wasn’t far behind with 11 points and nine rebounds while Jack Ford scored a team-high 14 points.
The offense was sluggish out of the gate for Lynnfield and North Reading took full advantage, building a 13-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
Lynnfield had one of its best runs of the night to start the second. Marengi and Ford both scored two straight baskets and Luke Martinho (six points) hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 13-13.
Later in the second, Cody Cannalonga (game-high 24 points) started to heat up for the Hornets, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers to get the North Reading lead up to six points.
Cannalonga continued to carry the Hornets in the third quarter, hitting another pair of 3’s to help North Reading stretch its lead to 37-26 before a Lynnfield timeout.
The timeout did wonders for the Pioneers. John Astrofsky got Lynnfield started with a quick basket and Ford followed with a 3-pointer. Marengi scored the next four points to cut the Hornets lead to 37-35.
Lynnfield got within one point before the fourth but North Reading went on another run to take a 46-39 lead. The Pioneers spent most of the final frame chipping away at the lead, with a 3-pointer from Marengi cutting it down to 52-51 in the final minute.
Maximilian Boustris (10 rebounds) grabbed a rebound and scored his first basket of the night in transition to give Lynnfield a 53-52 lead with 30 seconds left.
But Conell and Ford both missed free throws in the final seconds while Taylor came up big at the line for the Hornets to seal the 53-52 win.
“We had two situations here in the first half and the second half where we got down 12 or 13 points and we were able to make it a basketball game again,” MacKenzie said. “I like that. I don’t think there’s a lot of quit in these guys. That’s certainly something. I think ultimately though, we’re running out of chances to get wins.”
The Pioneers (2-6) host Ipswich Tuesday (6:30).
