Boys Basketball Opens Postseason with a Win

Junior Eddie Rochte with a big block in the second half of Hingham's opening round playoff game.

March 2, 2022 - Story and photos by Joshua Ross

The boys basketball team were back at it last night after a week off to start their playoff push against St. Paul Diocesan of Worcester. The Harbormen, ranked 24th in the state tournament, were able to host a playoff game in the preliminary round.

St Paul opened up a 5-0 lead early in the first quarter, but Hingham took the lead shortly after and never gave it up. The Harbormen moved the ball well, played great defense and had six different scorers in the first half. They did get into early foul trouble as starters senior John Sula and junior Eddie Rochte were replaced early with junior Nick Dubois and sophomore Chase Mello. Dubois had an immediate impact with 5 points in the second quarter.

Junior Nick Dubois chases after a loose ball in the second half.

“Very few instances that we face that adversity where we are missing two of our guys, two of our starters,” coach Bob Kniffen said after the game. “They were out early and props to Nick Dubois and Chase Mello for stepping up and being in this game. Chase Mello started this season on JV and didn’t even have a varsity uniform until after Christmas. Here he is in the state tournament stepping up, getting big minutes, and contributing to our huge team win.”

The week off didn’t seem to impact the players too much even as they faced an opponent they have never seen before, as is the case in most state tournament play.

“The big thing tonight was playing team basketball,” Kniffen explained after the game. “Pushing the tempo, getting up and down, just unselfish basketball was the recipe tonight and they executed it and got it done.”

Sophomore Chase Mello, who started the season on JV, played big minutes in the Harbormen's win last night.

Regardless of the opponent this year, junior captain Liam McBride has be one of the constants Kniffin can rely on. McBride led all scorers again with 22 points in the Harbormen’s 53-35 win. Next up is Central Catholic in Lawrence on Friday night. Another unfamiliar opponent the team has to prepare for.

“It’s all new schools at this point in the season,” added Kniffen. “It’s not as much as who you are playing it’s about playing your game and hope you play well enough to get the “W” and we are going to our best on Friday against a very tough opponent.”