2/15/98
by jim clark

The big guy did a lot of damage, but the smallest player on the floor was the one who
ultimately finished off the Fitchburg High Basketball team Thursday night.
There was no shortage of scoring from Holy Names 7 foot five British import Neil Fingleton,
but it was 5- foot -9 Dave McNamara who hit the two key shots In the final minutes to lift
the visiting Naps over the Red Raiders, 50- 47 at the Academy Street Brickyard.

Fingleton is the one who gets the publicity and draws the attention from the opposing teams,
but it was McNamara who worried coach Doug Crutchfield the most. And he should know,
since McNamara is the nephew od Crutchfileds wife Ellyn.

" The guy we wanted to stop, but who inevitably beat us in the end, was McNamara," Crutchfield
said. " We did a great job on him, but he made the key shots at the end."

McNamara finished with only 9 points, but five came in the last two minutes to break a 45
all tie. Moments after Nick Josephs jumper had evened things up, McNamara buried a three
pointer from the top of the key. Then, after a pair of empty trips downcourt for the Raiders
(17-3), McNamara hit a 12 footer from the right baseline. Fitchburg got a pair of free throws
from Gio Graciano with 34 seconds left, but Graciano missed an off balance three point
attempt at the buzzer.

" We kept telling him he was not playing his best game, but sometimes all it takes is one shot
and thats what he did," said Holy Name coach J.P. Ricciardi said of McNamara. If the juinor
guard starred at the end, it was Fingleton who dominated early. He scored his teams first 13
points on the way to a 25-point, 12-rebound,6 block effort. Fingletons presence on the defensive
end was just as imposing as what he did on offense. " We played him tough, but he just altered
so many of our shots," Crutchfield said. " We were throwing up shots we noramlly dont do."

Fitchburg trailed much of the way, but finally took a 39-38 lead on two free throws by Graciano
(12 points) with 7:40 to go. Matt Creamer followed with a jumper, but then the Raiders went
quiet for a while as Holy Name went on a 7-0 run. Fingleton had a big two-handed slam and
three - point play during the burst.

Jon gauvin had 10 points and Keith Leavitt 9 to along with 20 rebounds - for Fitchburg.