Ronan Coffey delivers Norwell boys' basketball its first state championship with buzzer-beating 3 and heroic overtime
'Great players, they always seem to be in the right spot,' said Willis. 'Ronan was in the right spot. He never hesitated, he just let it go, and as soon as he released it, I knew it was going in.'
Norwell's Ronan Coffey sends the game to overtime knotted at 54 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer thanks to an offensive rebound by Charlie Williams. We are headed to OT!
— Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie)
Coffey scored 8 points in the overtime period, finishing with a game-high 30, lifting the second-seeded Clippers to the title with a 64-61 win over No. 20 Old Rochester at the Tsongas Center on Friday night.
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With Old Rochester clinging onto a 54-51 lead, Norwell called timeout with 17.5 seconds remaining in regulation and drew up a play for senior guard Nick Adams to come off a screen and shoot a 3-pointer.
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Adams missed, but sophomore forward Charlie Williams pulled down the rebound and found a wide-open Coffey, who swished a shot he'll never forget.
'We ran the play we wanted. We got a good shot,' Coffey said. 'That's why we make our plays four to five seconds, we get that rebound and we get another shot.'
Norwell boys basketball is state champions for the first time! 64-61 over Old Rochester in the Division 3 title game
— Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie)
During its undefeated run through the regular season and state tournament, Norwell blew out most of the teams it faced, and never played as close a game as it did Friday night. But the team's seniors — Coffey, Adams, Will Bostrom, and Oliver Rice — have played together for 10 years. They leaned on their joined experience.
'We knew we had each other,' said Bostrom. 'We know we can always fall on each other.'
The Clippers (25-0) led for most of the game, but could never open up a double-digit advantage against resilient Old Rochester, which was the lowest-seeded team to make a basketball state final since the inception of the statewide tournament.
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When Norwell took an early 15-8 edge, the Bulldogs (15-10) responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead. When the Clippers rattled off another run to take a 30-22 lead early in the third quarter, Old Rochester scored 9 straight to take a 31-30 lead.
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That pattern continued into the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs jumped into pole position when Gavin Martin scored 6 straight points late in the fourth quarter. Then it was time Coffey's heroics.
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Old Rochester had a final look to send the game to double-overtime, but the shot rattled off as the buzzer sounded. Immediately, the Clippers sprinted across the court to their student section, which flung hats and beads into the air.
Senior guard Gavin Martin led the Bulldogs with 27 points, including 12 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
'I think we played our hardest,' Martin said. 'Some things, just a tip away, a rebound away. It's just tough. I'm not disappointed. I'm happy.'
Old Rochester's Gavin Martin drives between Norwell's Oliver Rice (3) and Nick Adams (5).
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Ronan Coffey celebrates with the championship trophy after scoring a game-high 30 points, including 11 of Norwell's final 13.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Ronan Coffey launches a 3-pointer over ORR's Gavin Martin.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell celebrates with its championship banner at Tsongas Center in Lowell.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Nick Adams scores 2 of his 12 points on a reverse layup over ORR's Grady Oliveira in overtime.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Ronan Coffey drives for a layup against Old Rochester's Hunter Horsey.
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Norwell's Ronan Coffey encourages his teammates during a nip-and-tuck game.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Ronan Coffey lines up a 3-pointer against ORR's Noah Thorell.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Norwell's Ronan Coffey dishes in between Old Rochester's Hunter Horsey (30) and Noah Thorell.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
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