Photos by Joshua Ross
Right from the opening tip, this game between 5th seed Hingham (16-6) and 12th seed Foxboro (14-8) had a little bit of everything. Big leads, good defense, blocked shots, and lights out shooting, especially from Foxboro's Sr Captain Brandon Borde, who seemed to make everything he shot in the first half.
Hingham fell behind early and was playing catch-up the whole first half. Junior Jack Hurley kept the Harbormen in it scoring half of his team's 14 first quarter points.
Hingham's deficit wasn't for a lack of shooting or open shots. The shots just weren't falling for the Harbormen early. Senior Thomas Koenen did manage to make this jumper for 2 of his 4 first quarter points.
Senior Luke Mashburn attempts to take a charge on the defense end, but even those weren't going Hingham's way early in the game and after the first quarter, they trailed 23-14.
Fouls were an issue for both teams and Hingham had to go to it's bench in the second quarter. Sophomore Nick Johannes got in early and often and didn't waste anytime trying to get Hingham back in the game.
Despite being down as much as 10 points in the second quarter, the crowd was on their feet the entire game. The student cheering section for any HHS sporting event is a sight to be seen.
Jack Hurley stretches out to defend Foxboro's frequent and often successful 3-point shots. Hurley scored 10 of his 17 first half points in the second quarter helping Hingham erase a 10 point deficit.
Foxboro managed to get their lead back up to 8 points taking a 41-33 lead into halftime. Hingham's defense started to pick up late in the 2 second quarter, including this block from Junior Stephen White as the half came to an end.
It was a whole new ballgame in the second half. Hingham's defense was outstanding holding Foxboro to just 4 third quarter points. Defense turned into easy offense for the Harbormen where Jack Hurley picked right back up in the second half with this easy lay in.
Senior Nick Lynch shoots over an outstretched defender as Hingham kept the pressure on Foxboro throughout the second half. As the lead got smaller and smaller, the crowd got louder and louder.
Finally, with 4:50 left in the game, the Harbormen grabbed their first lead 50-49 on a Luke Mashburn layup. He finished the game with 21 points, 14 of them in the 4th and OT.
With 1.6 seconds left in the game and Hingham down by 1, Jack Hurley was fouled as he drove to the basket. He missed the first free throw, but sank the second tying the game at 59-59 at the end of regulation.
The Harbormen never looked back in OT. They outscored Foxboro 17-3 in the extra frame due in large part to their suffocating defense shown here by Thomas Koenen blocking a shot.
Giving the Harbormen huge minutes throughout the game, Nick Johannes turned it on in overtime, scoring 6 of his 10 points. He was one of only 3 Harbormen with double digit points in the game.
Jack Hurley finished it off with this easy layup in OT. Hurley finished with a game high 28 points capping off Hingham's 76-62 come from behind win. The Harbormen move on and will play in Scituate on Sunday at 2pm. The game is likely to sell out, so get there early.