LYNN — Heading into Tuesday night’s MIAA Division 1 preliminary at Lynn English High School, it was never going to be easy.
No. 40 Marshfield entered with 15 seniors, three Patriot League All-Stars (James Molloy, Mike Scully, Jake Brilliant), and a head coach in Bob Fisher who’s helmed 43 consecutive state tournament teams at Rockland, Quincy, and now Marshfield.
Fast forward three quarters – plus overtime – and the upset was complete. Marshfield defeated No. 25 Lynn English, 100-99, to punch its ticket to Friday’s Round of 32 at No. 8 Andover.
In his 696th career win, Fisher had a perfect view of Matt Ellwood’s (21 points) triple with 30 seconds remaining in overtime that put the visitors ahead, 100-97.
English’s Kyle Kemembin finished a layup the next possession (100-99), but that’s as good as it got for the hosts.
It was far from smooth for Marshfield, however. After a steal-and-score from Carmelo Buese, the Bulldogs led, 82-74, with 3:25 remaining in regulation.
But from there, disaster.
After an English turnover off an inbound pass, Marshfield scored five points in a matter of seconds to make it 88-87.
With 8.6 seconds to go – in someone’s season – Buese buried a free throw to make it 89-87, but missed the second. Marshfield broke free off the inbound and Brilliant (28 points) cashed in on the game-tying layup with two seconds remaining.
The play was just one example of Marshfield’s maturity. Despite piles of turnovers and offensive rebounds allowed, the Rams looked forward to every play – not backward – en route to the next round.
English won the first and third quarters, even beginning the game with a 10-2 cushion. Marshfield caught fire with four threes in the third and closed regulation on a 15-7 run.
The Bulldogs check out with a 16-6 record behind coach Alvin Abreu, while Marshfield moves on with its 11-10 record.
