Sports Roundup: Boys Hoops Lose Double OT Thriller, Swim Competes In State Sectionals
David Creed •
This Whaler sports roundup includes updates on the boys basketball team following a pair of games over the weekend, including a thrilling double overtime matchup, results from the girls and boys sectional swim meets, the girls basketball team, and the boys hockey team.
Boys Hoops Blow Out Cape Cod Academy, Lose Double OT Thriller
The boys basketball team hosted the 16-1 Ayer Shirley Regional High School Panthers Saturday morning for the second game of a back-to-back after Nantucket blew out Cape Cod Academy 73-40 at home on Friday. It was a double overtime thriller the Whalers ultimately lost 77-72 on Saturday to the Panthers.
"We came to battle today but just came out on the wrong end," Whaler head coach Willis Ferreira said after Saturday’s loss. "I like the fight. We had a couple chances with the ball in overtime twice I think, or regulation whatever it was. We had the ball with a chance to win, just didn't make a play. Just got to do a better job as a coach getting a better play called in those situations. But it is what it is, and they're tough. They're tough on the inside. We finally adjusted the defense a little better. We finally got a few stops, but they made big shots when they had to and unfortunately, we turned it over twice late. It kind of cost us.”
Nantucket jumped out to a quick 10-5 lead thanks to five quick points from junior big man Ethan Jarrett, a three pointer from freshman guard Burke Lombardi, and two points from junior guard Vallon Jeanty three minutes into the game. Lombardi (24 points), Jarrett (21 points), and Jeanty (21 points) led the Whaler’s offensively all game.
The Panthers rallied back however, led by senior Zach Iannacone who scored his 1,000th career varsity point in the first, to take an 18-15 lead into the second quarter.
The Whalers found themselves in a dry spell on offense to end the first and begin the second, and it helped the Panthers take a 25-17 lead three minutes into the second.
The Whaler’s defense kept them in it as they struggled to find much offense and found themselves trailing 31-26 going into halftime.
The Whalers and Panthers started to get more going offensively in the third, and the Whalers trimmed the Panthers lead to 41-39 with two minutes to play. But Ayer Shirley, as they had all game, responded well and made it 47-41 with 1:19 to go in the third. The score was 49-43 Panthers heading into the final quarter.
Panthers were making their free throws in the fourth quarter and pulled away by 10 points with three minutes to play. But Lombardi scored 11 straight points for Nantucket to cut it to 59-57 with 1:02 to go in the game.
"You want him taking those big shots," Ferreira said of Lombardi. "It's crazy to say but as a young kid, you want him to take big shots. I want him taking big shots. He forgets the last one, and that's the sign of a good player. Some kids that miss a few in a row, they don't want the ball. I mean, he wants the ball. Him and Vallon were good. E (Ethan Jarrett) was, you know, he had moments. They did a good job down there with him, but they started doubling him and so it made it difficult.”
With 25 seconds left in regulation, Jeanty banked a three off the glass to make it 60-60 and send the game to overtime.
A Jeanty three made it 68-65 Nantucket with 2:29 to go in overtime after Lombardi also hit a three earlier in the first overtime frame. Jeanty began overtime with a sweet dish to Jarrett down low for two points.
“It is just a tough loss,” Ferreira said. “I feel bad for the kids because we kept talking about finding a way. We kept finding a way to keep it close and we just couldn't find a way to get that extra bucket. Then we got that extra bucket, I think Vallon hit a three, a couple minutes left, and they come down here and get three. You give up three there but are just hoping to get a stop and another two or foul shot and try to get a little momentum. And they come back and hit a three and take the momentum right back. So, yeah. Tough one."
The team’s entered double overtime after being tied 70-70, but Nantucket struggled to capitalize on their offensive chances while missing Jeanty, who fouled out late in the quarter. You can view more photos from this game here.
Nantucket’s next game will be Tuesday, February 11th on the road against Falmouth at 3:30 p.m.
Girls & Boys Swim Compete In State Sectionals
The girls swim team placed 12th in the state sectional meet on Saturday out of 39 teams while the boys placed 21st out of 41 teams on Sunday. Below are the times for each team.
GIRLS:
The 200-yard medley relay team featuring Sara Dussault, Myah Johnson, Evie Phelps, and Martina Savova placed sixth and finished with a time of 1:58:57.
The 200-yard freestyle relay team featuring Dussault, Johnson, Phelps, and Martha Nastus placed ninth and finished with a time of 1:48.57.
Sara Dussault swam the 200-yard individual medley and placed sixth with a time of 2:22.29. She also placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:13.13.
Myah Johnson swam the 50-yard freestyle and placed sixth with a time of 25:38. She also swam the 100-yard freestyle and placed 13th with a time of 57.89.
Evie Phelps swam the 200-yard freestyle and placed 11th with a time of 2:07:33. She also swam the 100-yard breaststroke and placed 14th with a time of 1:15.01
Martina Savova swam the 100-yard butterfly and placed 16th with a time of 1:05.50.
BOYS:
The 200-yard medley relay team featuring Jake Johnson, Eli MacIver, Pavlin Aleksiev, and Markus Vitanov placed 23rd and finished with a time of 1:51.96.
The 200-yard freestyle relay team featuring Jake Johnson, Eli MacIver, D'Marco Lewis, and Pavlin Aleksiev placed 20th and finished with a time of 1:39.28.
Jake Johnson placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22:06. He also placed second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.55.
Eli MacIver placed ninth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:07.47. He also placed 23rd in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.54.
Girls Basketball Beats Falmouth Academy
The girls basketball team improved their record to 7-5 last week after beating Falmouth Academy 28-25 on Friday. The win also clinched the Whalers a Cape & Islands Lighthouse Division League Championship.
Nantucket is also just three wins away from securing a spot in the state tournament for a second consecutive season with eight games remaining on their regular season schedule. They will be back in action on Monday, February 10th on the road against Cape Cod Academy at 3:45 p.m.
Boys Hockey Loses To Barnstable
The boys hockey team traveled to the Cape to play Div. 1 Barnstable on Saturday and lost 11-1. Junior assistant captain Canton Jenkinson was Nantucket's lone goal scorer. The Whalers are still searching for their first win of the season and they will try to earn it on Monday, February 10th on the road against the Bourne Canalmen at 3 p.m.
SCHEDULE AHEAD:
Monday, February 10th:
The boys hockey team will be on the road playing the Bourne Canalmen at 3 p.m.
The girls basketball team will be on the road playing Cape Cod Academy at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, February 11th:
The girls basketball team will be at home playing Sturgis West at 5 p.m.
The boys basketball team will be on the road playing Falmouth High School at 3:30 p.m.
For more coverage of all the Nantucket High School winter sports teams, follow our sports Instagram page here.
For more photos taken by Chris Tran, follow his Instagram page here.
To view the MIAA Power Rankings, click here.