The Bedford High School Buccaneers—a clutch three-pointer away from a dreadful defeat—regained command in the second overtime and defeated Waltham, 70-65, Wednesday night at home for their 13th boys’ basketball win of the season.
In the opener of the Dual County League doubleheader, the 14-3 Bedford girls, down three-and-half starters, played with enormous heart and poise, ultimately falling to Concord-Carlisle, 47-43.
The boys played intelligent, effective two-way basketball for three quarters, leading by as many as 16 before starting the fourth period with a seemingly comfortable advantage of 46-42. The lead was still 10 with less than five minutes to play.
But the Bucs went seven minutes, 39.7 seconds, and scored only two points, and Waltham hit three consecutive shots from long range to spark a ferocious comeback.
The Bucs trailed by three with 25 seconds remaining. Max Alper missed a three-point attempt from the right side. Dylan DiGangi grabbed the rebound and fed Alper again. He didn’t miss the second try.
The first overtime began tied at 51 and ended tied at 59. In the second overtime, the Bucs shifted into overdrive.
After the teams exchanged free throws, the Bucs went on an 8-0 run to basically put the game away. Justice Buchannan’s baseline layup made it 62-60; then the Bucs got a steal off a double team and Alper laid it in all alone.
Matt Kazangian rebounded a missed three-pointer by the Hawks. At the other end, Buchannan badly missed a three-point attempt, but Jacori McNeil was under the basket, in a perfect spot to grab the ball and lay it in.
Then after a McNeil steal, Alper made it 68-60 on a cutting layup with less than two minutes to go. Waltham managed only a three-pointer and a meaningless basket at the end.
Alper, a four-year varsity veteran, had one of his best games, with 21 points on 50 percent shooting, and four steals. He scored nine of the 19 Bedford points in the two overtimes. Fellow senior Max Forman added 13 and sophomore Buchannan came off the bench to score 12. McNeil shot five-for-five for 10 points. Kazangian led the team in steals with five.
The Bucs finish their regular season Monday at 7 against Arlington, following the girls’ 5 p.m. game vs. Tewksbury.
In Wednesday’s opening game, the Bedford girls trailed by five when Sydney Poor fed Cassie Morrison for a basket inside. Then Concord-Carlisle turned it over at midcourt. Head Coach Ashley Kepaa called time out with less than 40 seconds remaining and the girls behind by one possession.
But the Patriots played suffocating defense and Bedford never got off a shot as the 30-second clock expired.
Bedford played without starters Julia Dearing, Katherine Vaughan, and Marina Greaney, and Sydney Poor had a large brace on her knee. But senior Allie Zorn supplied the direction, and the sophomores delivered. Bridget Sheahan scored 15 points, Morrison and MacKenzie Tierney each seven.
The girls have three games remaining in their regular season—and with 14 wins, the team is a lock to qualify for post-season play.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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