SALEM — Two top-five teams. Two combined losses.
In a meeting of powerhouses, No. 2 Salem (Div. 3) hosted top-ranked St. Mary’s (Div. 2) in boys basketball action Wednesday night. Four quarters later, the Witches had the last laugh and escaped 61-59.
Salem upped its record to 13-1, while St. Mary’s dipped to 14-2 after a game of runs. It was the Spartans’ first loss to a Massachusetts team this season.
The Spartans held possession in the final minute, trailing by three points, but turned the ball over with 13 seconds to go. Trailing by five, Jake Fortier banked in a 3-pointer — on one leg from the left elbow — with 1.2 seconds remaining, but time expired on the visitors.
Salem led by five points after the first quarter (16-11), seven at halftime (30-23), and nine after three (45-36). St. Mary’s netted 23 fourth-quarter points, but it was too little, too late.
Do-it-all Rolky Brea Arias led the Spartans with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Salem was paced by Elian Rodriguez (18 points), Nathan Lane (14), and Cleto Deng (12 points, 13 rebounds).
St. Mary’s visits Arlington Catholic Friday at 6:30 p.m. Salem heads to Winthrop the same night at 7 p.m.
The MIAA’s next set of power rankings will be released Friday morning.
