FITCHBURG — The Mahar boys summer basketball team almost let one get away during its 60-56 win over Lunenburg in Monty Tech summer basketball league action Thursday night.
After holding a 37-29 lead, Mahar shot 0-for-9, allowing Lunenburg to capitalize and go up 46-37 halfway through the second half. Mahar then swung the shooting in its favor, going on an 11-0 run to take a 48-46 lead with five minutes left.
The two teams traded leads six times within the final four minutes, Mahar but strung together four free throws within the final 11 seconds to go on top 60-56.
“There were times where we didn’t pay attention to defensive detail and it hurt us,” said Mahar coach Enver Softic.
Mahar improved to 3-3 with the win, which puts them in a better position to make the playoffs but still on the outside looking in. The Mahar players still have four teams ahead of them in the standings, with one more win vying for one of four playoff spots. Mahar is clumped together with several 3-3 teams.
After next week’s mandatory bye week, Mahar will play one team with more than two wins in North Middlesex.
“We’re just thinking about getting through the next possession because we’re just learning,” said Softic. “I didn’t like the first half at all even though we were hitting the three consistently. … We were down by nine, so that was a good thing.”
After trading one-point leads, Mahar finally built a three-point lead at 57-54 with 22 seconds left in the game. They gave Lunenburg that opportunity to tie it with 11 seconds left when Jordan Desrosiers fouled in the air on a 3-pointer. Fortunately for Mahar, Lunenburg made just two of three free throws, allowing Mahar to maintain a one-point lead. The play ultimately meant nothing, however, as Lunenburg failed to score the rest of the way.
“That’s a veteran player,” said Softic about Desrosiers’ foul. “Kids get antsy and they want to make a play and they make mistakes.”
Mahar made 22 baskets on 62 attempts (35 percent).
“We could have shot better,” said Mahar’s Deven Patch who tied for a team-high 13 points. “We just went for the first shot instead passing the ball around.”
Mahar led 32-28 at halftime. The team started out a perfect 4-for-4 to start the game, but Lunenburg stayed within striking distance for most of the first half. Mahar failed to build any lead larger than nine, which came at the 16:29 mark when Patch nailed a midrange jumper to put his team up 11-3.
Patch shared the team-high in points with Matt Lyesiuk and shared a lead in rebounds with Charlie Barnes, who both had six. Barnes contributed six points as well.
After the mandatory bye week, Mahar will face last place Ayer on July 10 at 5 p.m.