New Hampshire Sports Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
@nhsportspage Twitter Feed
Top posting users this month
No user


Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

+2
anotherhoopfan
The Edge
6 posters

Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Tuesday and Friday Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:54 am

Here is my write up on the great prelim game on Wednesday between Pembroke and Memorial.This game deserves more than a couple of short paragraphs that it received in the regular news outlets.

As I went through my notes I really gained a further appreciation for the game. When everything is happening in a flurry of activity it is tough to process the series of basketball events. When you are a day removed from the game and see on paper something that happened here and there you gain more appreciation for that play and other things that happened. Like a great piece of art the 91 to 87 OT victory by Pembroke gained another appreciation for me as I scanned my notes.

Both teams left it out on the court between 7 and 9 pm last Wednesday in the Spartan gym. By rule there has to be a winner and loser. By pure basketball soul both teams have nothing to be ashamed of with their performances.


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Pembroke Defeats Memorial 91-87 in OT Thriller

By: Tuesday and Friday

Seniors Max Curran and Dominic Timbas combined for 76 points to help lead the Spartans past the Crusaders in the D1 Prelim game of the night. Why was it the game of the night? Well, there were a lot of people just known by one name. You had Max and Dominic for Pembroke. You had Trevon and Kabongo for Memorial. You had Quirk and Alosa coaching. Putting the icing on the best prelim cake were the 2 officials known as Moe and Greenie. How many games can be stamped with this many 1 word names? Only this one NH high school basketball fans. Believe me, the Pembroke gym was THE ONLY PLACE to be on prelim night in NH. This game had great hype and it lived up to every shred of it.

Trevon Maughn was on fire to start the 1st period. He canned four 3’s in the initial stanza and every one of them was good on the release. He could’ve done the Steph Curry turn around and walk away on all 4 of the 3’s. Dom Timbas had an exceptional 1st period scoring 12 points on a mixture of 3’s and strong finishes to the hole. Even though Memorial led 22 to 18 after 1 it easily could’ve been a 10 point lead if they finished some layups on Pembroke turnovers.

Both teams had a torrid pace in the 2nd period running, shooting and making. Kabongo slashed finished. Trevon pumped in a couple more 3’s. Max and Dom combined for four 3’s. This was now being played like a semifinal at UNH. The players and the crowd could feel it. Heck, even the missed shots in this game were probably better than most of the made shots in all the other prelim games. Trevon would hit a 3 from 8 feet beyond the arc then attempt one from next to the popcorn stand which would just miss. Kabongo would dribble drive by the 5 Spartan starters and the 9 Spartan subs on the bench and would come up just short. Max had a breakaway dunk which hit the back of the rim and soared 40 feet up in the air bouncing between the metal support beams of the gym roof……… Spectacular missed shots!!! That’s how good this game was turning into.

Trevon’s 1st half was almost similar to the one he hung on Central in the semis last season at UNH. He had 23. Dom kept pace with 22. Both teams came out more deliberate or more tired in the 2nd half. Pembroke made a defense switch going with Connor Boucher on Trevon instead of the taller Dom. It worked as Trevon’s shot got more tired. He only hit one 3 in the 3rd. Now I say slow down and deliberate, but both teams still managed to score 18 points each in the 3rd. 18 points on deliberate offense!! That’s how good this game was. A FT by Kabongo with 4:25 left in the 3rd gave memorial a 54 to 43 lead. I was told by a Pembroke fan the Spartans never came back from a double digit deficit in the 2nd half all season.

With 5:10 left in the 4th Max does a put back to give Pembroke its first lead of the game at 66 to 65. The next 5 minutes becomes a basketball thrill ride with lead changes, tie scores and great shots. The drama was palpable with each possession. Players from both teams were grasping for air because the pace was heightened and quickened. The fans of each team hung on every shot, dribble, pass and call by a referee. Moe and Greenie were up to the moment managing the play and personalities on the court while managing the BIG personalities in the coach’s box. This game was not for a faint whistle or faint referee mind. These 2 seasoned ref veterans were spot on.

With 1 minute left in regulation a Kabongo runner made it 76 to 74 Pembroke. Timbas misses the front end of a 1 and 1. With 35 seconds left Kabongo uses every ounce of athleticism he has in his varied arsenal to muscle up a runner in traffic to tie the game at 76. Pembroke calls a TO with 20 seconds left. They try to execute a play with Max. He stumbles receiving the ball and travels with 8 seconds left. Memorial calls TO and has to go 84 feet. They do so with Kabongo who misses a 10 foot floater in traffic at the end of regulation. OVERTIME!!!!

This game deserved OT. This game demanded OT. This game was pre-ordained by the Basketball Gods to go OT.

From 3:41 to 2:39 Pembroke went on a 7 – 0 run. The run was capped by a serious physical struggle, with no advantage gained, so says Moe and Greenie…. Between Trevon and Max. The 6 ‘8 99 pound Max wins the battle and drives to the hoop with a thunderous SLAM to give Pembroke their largest lead of the game at 83 to 76. TO for Memorial as the Spartan legions of Alosa-Ville are rocking and rolling. (Okay Max weighs a little more than 99 pounds, but you get the Max picture).

One would think it’s Ova as they say, but enter Lee Corso Time as in “not so fast my friend”: A Preston 3 makes it 83 to 79 with 2:25. A Trevon floater with 1:56 cuts the Pembroke lead to 83 to 81. A Trevon 3 with 1;25 left gives Memorial a breath taking 84 to 83 lead. We are now in religious basketball time my friends. Memorial down by 7 showed complete resolve with this 8 – 0 run. Curran hits a 3 with 1:05 left to give Pembroke an 86 to 84 lead. It is deafening in the Spartan Gym.

Did I happen to mention this was THE ONLY PLACE to be tonight in NH?

Two separate FTs with 34 and 19 seconds left give PA an 88 to 84 advantage. With 12 seconds left Trevon appropriately hits the last shot of his career: A Looooooongggg 3 to cut the Memorial deficit to 1 at 88 to 87. The strategy for the Spartans was simple in the last 12 seconds. Keep the ball in Max’s hands, let him get fouled and have him make the FTs. He makes 1 FT with 11 seconds left….. 89 to 87 PA. Trevon attempts a shot near the 3 point line with 3.7 left. He’s fouled. Trevon pleads to Moe and Greenie it was a 3 attempt. The 2 vets confer and determine it’s a 2 attempt.

Trevon misses the first FT…… a short arm and tired leg front of the rim miss. Time out. A lot of things could be done here. Trevon opts to miss the 2nd FT intentionally and tosses the ball excruciatingly, for Memorial, at the net and out of bounds. Curran is then fouled and cans the 2 FTs to give Pembroke the final 91 to 87 victory.

The players are spent. The coaches have been through the playoff grind. The fans are witness to a prelim game for the ages. Thank You Basketball Gods. Thank You for Dominic and Max. Thank You for Trevon and Kabongo. Thank You for Quirk and Alosa. Thank You for Moe and Greenie. For nearly 2 hours, trust me, this was THE ONLY PLACE to be in NH for one magical basketball night.

Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Tuesday and Friday Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:10 am

Jack Quirk informed me after the game he will be giving up his AD position next year for Memorial. He said he will definitely come back to coach Memorial next season.

Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  The Edge Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:19 am

Well written T&F you belong on the Mt. Rushmore of NH High School Basketball journalists:

Leville,Marchilena, Haley, and T&F

The Edge
All-State
All-State

Posts : 167
Join date : 2012-02-13

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty What a GREAT Read!

Post  anotherhoopfan Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:43 am

Thanks for posting - for those of us that weren't able to be in there - you brought us right into the gym with you!!! Thanks so much!!!!

anotherhoopfan
Junior Varsity
Junior Varsity

Posts : 26
Join date : 2014-09-08

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  tom2 Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:48 am

T&F
He's 178Lbs Smile)
Great job on the write up!!!

tom2
Varsity
Varsity

Posts : 77
Join date : 2014-04-21

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  tom2 Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:31 am

And..I was just told that Max set the all-time New Hampshire state record for scoring during a playoff game!

tom2
Varsity
Varsity

Posts : 77
Join date : 2014-04-21

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Tuesday and Friday Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:32 pm

Thanks for the nice words cheers Basketball cheers

"And..I was just told that Max set the all-time New Hampshire state record for scoring during a playoff game!"
tom2

I don't mean to throw some rain on Max's scoring parade from Wednesday night, but I have last year's program from D1/D2 boys right in front of me. According to the official NHIAA program here are the single game scoring records for:

D1/Class L: 46 points by James Best of Portsmouth 1984

D2/Class I: 43 points by Scott Drapeau of Merrimack Valley 1990


Max Curran can still go after the most points in a tournament record set by Pinkerton's Zack Mathieu in 2010 when he led them to the state title by scoring 112 points in 4 games. He scored 37 points in the thrilling 2OT Pinkerton 61 - 59 victory in the state title game. That 37 points is a D1/Class individual scoring record in a state title game.

The 91 points Pembroke scored Wednesday was within 8 of a D1/Class L team scoring record in a tournament game. In 1996 Winnacunnet scored 99 points in defeating Keene.

Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  tom2 Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:12 pm

oh well then I stand humbly corrected, coach told max his 44 points that he scored the other night broke the record but perhaps he is mistaken! Anyway very proud of his 44 points that he squirted the other night:))) it was a thrill to watch

tom2
Varsity
Varsity

Posts : 77
Join date : 2014-04-21

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Tuesday and Friday Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:53 pm

No problem. It's Jim Mora "PLAYOFFS" time, so people get caught up in the excitement. Max has a chance to set the record and score 47 tomorrow night at the Hackler Gym at the University of Pinkerton Wink

Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  tom2 Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:09 pm

Theres always that small ,small chance Max took creative liberties with the quote from coach Smile) I dont care so much about records anyway..just thrilled he had the game of his life. Not sure the chances of pulling thay off twice in a row but heres hoping!! Not sure my heart can handle another game like that though..I think it almost gave out a few times!! Could be dangerous for me!

tom2
Varsity
Varsity

Posts : 77
Join date : 2014-04-21

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  FormerFalcoln Sat Mar 14, 2015 4:36 am

I am pretty sure that Matt Ripaldi had 45 in a prelim game in 1992 D1/ Class L in front of his home crowd they were either the 1 or 2 seed (I'm getting old cant quite recall like I used too). They lost to Keene in the semis that year - last time I recall Keene ever being good.

FormerFalcoln
All-State
All-State

Posts : 124
Join date : 2014-01-19

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Tuesday and Friday Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:07 am

Could be true with "Ripper" Ripaldi. He "Ripped" the nets on quite a few occasions back in the early 90s.

To make the 46 points that James Best scored in 1984 even more impressive is there wasn't a 3 point shot that year. HS didn't adopt the 3 point shot until the 1987/1988 season. 46 points in a tournament game w/o benefit of the 3 ball? That goes to show yo u the skill set Best had and why he's still considered one of the greatest basketball players in NH history. The epic games between BG and Skip Barry vs Best's Portsmouth teams are still talked about to this day in your local & quaint pubs.

Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty 3 pointers

Post  Tuesday and Friday Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:07 am

Speaking of 3 pointers:

Most 3 pointers in 1 tournament game: 9 by Chris Brickley of Trinity 2005

Most 3 pointers by a player in Title game: 5 by Ryan Brandt of Winny 1995

Most 3 pointers by a player in a state tournament: 15 by Cormac Fitzpatrick Trinity 2009


Tuesday and Friday
Moderator

Posts : 3866
Join date : 2009-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  SeacoastDad Sun Mar 15, 2015 1:53 pm

FormerFalcoln wrote:I am pretty sure that Matt Ripaldi had 45 in a prelim game in 1992 D1/ Class L in front of his home crowd they were either the 1 or 2 seed (I'm getting old cant quite recall like I used too). They lost to Keene in the semis that year - last time I recall Keene ever being good.

It was 42 points in the prelim game versus Portsmouth. Winnacunnet won the championship, beating Keene in the finals.

SeacoastDad
All-State
All-State

Posts : 406
Join date : 2011-10-12

Back to top Go down

Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art  Empty Re: Pembroke v Memorial Prelim Game - Basketball Art

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum