February 10, 2023 – Story by Joshua Ross, photos by Joshua Ross and Jaime Connolly
In the midst of celebrating senior night for two programs and witnessing history, Hingham boys basketball team still needed to go out and win vs Duxbury last night to keep their post season hopes alive. With a 9-9 record and four games to play, the Harbormen needed to win at least two of the next four to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
The worst kept secret in town was that senior captain Liam McBride was only 14 points away from becoming the first player in program history to score 1,000 career points. Apparently it was the worst kept secret in Duxbury as well. The Dragons came out and double teamed McBride every chance they got and made it extremely difficult for him to get any shot off. He only managed three points in the first quarter and ended the half with eight points. Without being discouraged and with his teammates picking up the scoring, there was no signs of worry from McBride down by four going into halftime.
“He plays hard and he’s going to make the defender work every inch of the floor,” head coach Bob Kniffen said of McBride. “He’s done that all season and did that tonight – at the start and throughout the game. They were throwing double teams at him. We started moving the ball better and his teammates converted, which was huge, and that opened things up a little more for him.”
Whether it was opportunities opening up, the team settling down, or McBride just being McBride, things turned around in the third quarter. History happened midway through the quarter, needed only two points to reach 1,000, McBride pulled up a drained a three to tie the game and etch his name in the record books. The game was stopped, his teammates rushed the floor and a celebration with the fans, friends and families continued for a few minutes as the packed gymnasiums cheered throughout.
The celebration finally ended and the game resumed and both teams finished the quarter with 48 points. In the fourth, with the momentum, the Harbormen put the pressure on and pulled away from Duxbury. Junior Charlie Matthews nailed a three that gave Hingham the lead they never relinquished. Junior Chase Mello scored 9 of his 20 points in the last frame. Overall, eight different players scored and every senior who dressed had at least two points. On a night of individual achievement, it was a total team effort to get the much needed 65-57 win.
Something McBride acknowledged immediately after the game.
“It’s cool, but honestly, seriously I would not be here without my teammate, my coaches, and all those fans,” McBride emotionally said about his historic accomplishment. “To be honest, I really did’t know until last game. I know I passed (Neil) Creahan for (most) points. I had an idea that I was close by in the moment I had no idea.”
As much as he was asked about how it meant to him, he would continue to bring it back his support system that got him to this point.
“I really can’t put into words how much I love everyone who came out here to support me,” he went on to say. “It’s unreal. I love everyone who came here. I wouldn’t have been able to done it without their support. I credit my teammates the most for this accomplishment. Some specific teammates over the years Curtis Murphy, Jack Hurley, Jack McBride, Nick Dubois, they’ve all looked for me. They’re so unselfish. They fed me the ball and I couldn’t have done it without them.
Perhaps his biggest fan is his older brother Jack, who graduated HHS in 2021 and made the trip back from college to be at the game.
“I’ve grown up playing against him,” McBride says of his big brother. “I’ve played up on his teams. I want to give him a shout out specifically because he’s meant so much over the years. Even when we weren’t playing basketball together, he still supported me. He’s my biggest fan. I love him.”
While he won’t talk about himself, Coach Kniffen is happy to dish out the accolades.
“He’s as hard a worker as we’ve ever had,” explained Kniffen. “Almost to a fault. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went home and worked out in his gym for two hours. That’s the type of player he is and I don’t say that sarcastically. He’ll go home after games and shoot in his gym for two hours.”
Kniffen couldn’t be happier for him and his teammates and glad it happened the way it did.
“You couldn’t have scripted it any better,” he says jokingly. “Our final home game. A chance for him to get that in front of his home crowd. It’s been a long time coming. He’s played three years as a varsity starter but to do it through the Covid season, which was shortened, is pretty impressive the way it happened tonight. He didn’t press tonight, trying too hard. Trying to get that number. He played his game and it came naturally. I’m proud of him and happy for him that he got the opportunity to have this.”
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