Schools

Red Devils Fight Off Late Wilmington Rally [VIDEO]

Boys basketball nearly loses double digit lead, hangs on for 64-63 win.

Tom Lyons coined the finish of Friday night's road tilt against Wilmington a chaotic nightmare. Regardless, the Burlington boys basketball team called it a win.

After opening up a 15 point lead early, the host Wildcats diced their deficit down to three points with the ball in their hands, a full court in front of them and six seconds remaining.

Burlington opted to foul before Wilmington senior guard Tim McCarthy could get a shot off, but McCarthy felt the contact coming and lofted a shot from halfcourt, hoping the Red Devils would be whistled in the act of shooting.

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But instead of giving McCarthy the chance to tie the game, referees ruled the foul on the floor. Though the Wildcats managed a desparation three and mustered a meaningless buzzer beating lay up, it was Burlington that earned a 64-63 win.

"The end of the game was what i'd call a chaotic nightmare," said Lyons. "We wanted to foul, but we wanted to keep it so he wasn't shooting. That last call really saved us."

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Mark Melanson led all scorers with 19 points and hit a clutch three late in the game to put his team in position to win. Connor Gallivan and Shane Farley were the team's next high scorers with 12 markers apiece.

With the win, the Red Devils are 3-8 on the year and 2-2 in Middlesex League Small School Division play.

"It puts us right in the middle of the mix," said Lyons. "Against a good offensive team what you have to do is make them work on the defensive end. We did that and I think it showed the way we finished on offense. All in all, it was a very good win for us."


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