AMHERST — A trip to the Western Massachusetts Division 4 Tournament finals was within reach for the Granby boys basketball team.
Noah Bleakley had just hit a clutch 3-pointer, giving the Rams a four-point lead with 2 minutes left against Monson, Wednesday at Curry Hicks Cage.
In the final two minutes, the game slipped away and the second-seeded Rams lost 47-46.
The Granby fans all watched in stunned silence while the players stood in disbelief as No. 3 Monson celebrated its comeback win.
“We didn’t rebound,” Granby coach Tim Sheehan said. “Gave up too many second-chance opportunities in the third quarter. It was the little things we talk about every day. We had a couple lapses.”
Monson (13-10) will play top-seeded Hopkins Academy (20-2) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Cage for a sectional title.
In the fourth quarter, Monson’s Bahu Abdul-Wadud caught fire, scoring 11 of his 26 points to bring the Mustangs back and give them the late lead.
“We were making a concerted effort to keep them out of the paint,” Sheehan said. “We collapsed but that left him open on some of those threes. They were fortunate enough to make them.”
Abdul-Wadud went on a personal 5-0 run to give Monson a 47-46 lead after Bleakley’s 3-pointer. Abdul-Wadud attacked the rim on both plays, the second basket came with a foul.
In scoring the game-winning points that sent his team to the Western Mass. finals, Abdul-Wadud went over 1,000 points for his career.
The Rams had two opportunities for a game-winner. On the first possession, Joe Desormier had to launch a loose ball from midcourt to beat the shot clock. On the second with 1.3 seconds left, Monson stole a pass intended for Zach Gorham in the paint.
Seniors Mike Sosa, Desormier, Gorham. Bleakley, Ethan King, Joe Bessette and Collin Stearns played their last game for Granby.
“It’s really difficult,” Sheehan said. “This is a group that I really wanted the opportunity to get there and play for a championship.”
Gorham and Sosa each had 10 points for Granby.
“Behind closed doors they’ve put in a lot of work,” Sheehan said. “As close as we all are, I feel really bad I wasn’t able to get them there. It’s tough.”
Desormier hit a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that gave Granby a 41-34 lead.
Ryan Sheehan (12 points) hit three 3-pointers in a row for the Rams in the second quarter.
The 9-0 run gave Granby a 17-13 lead late in the half. Bessette had five points for the Rams.
Granby led 38-31 going into the fourth quarter, but Abdul-Wadud hit two 3-pointers to cut into the lead. Logan Gerry’s 3-pointer for Monson made it a one-point game with 3 minutes, 38 seconds left.
Monson 47, Granby 46
Monson (13-10)
Abdul-Wadud 10-2-26, Gerry 2-0-6, Sisco 3-0-8, Gunther 0-1-1, Miller 1-0-2, Tranghese 2-0-4 Totals 18-3-47
Granby (14-9)
Desormier 2-0-5, Gorham 4-2-10, Sosa 3-3-9, Bleakley 1-0-3, Bessette 3-0-7, Sheehan 4-0-12 Totals 17-5-46
|
Monson |
8 |
11 |
12 |
16 |
—47 |
|
Granby |
8 |
13 |
17 |
11 |
—46 |
3-Pointers— Monson 8 (Abdul-Wadud 4, Gerry 2, Sisco 2) Granby 7 (Sheehan 4, Desormier, Bleakley, Bessette)
