from the Sentinel
1/28/98 by Rick Eggleston
Theres no doubt the final score of any basketball game is a tough thing for the losing team to take.Especially after that team played 25 of the hardest and best basketball they,ve played all year. That basketball team Tuesday night at a packed Bartlett Gym would be the scrappy North Middleses boys, who shut down Mid-Wach A giant Fitchburg in the first half for a 39-30 half time advantage before falling to the Red Raiders down the stretch 89-68. "It's a tough one to take," North Middlesex coach Rich Macleod said. "They played them so close, but you would never know it by the score ... The kids wanted this bad. They have never beaten Fitchburg before". For much of last nights high octane and high-drama shoot out, however, the patriots (4-7) were beating the Raiders (12-1). And delivering the most powerful punches for the Pats was their senior co-captain Brian Murphy, Knocking down 26 of his game-high 35 points in the first half, while finishing the contest hitting an incredible 7-out-10 from behind the three-point arc. According to MacLeod, Murphy's staggering figures from the floor remained the silver lining to a game which was played without his number two leading scorer and top rebounder, Pete Murray. "That hurt us," said MacLeod, who cited team disciplinary reasons for why Murray was out. "It gave them more of an advantage inside." Recognizing that, the Red Raiders stormed back in the second half behind its big men senior Jon Gauvin and junior Keith Leavitt, as Gio Graciano dumped in a team-leading 20 points. "I'm proud with the way our guys came through and played in the second half. They really stepped it up, and started getting the bal inside," Fitchburg coach Doug Grutchfield said. "we were a whole different team in the second half." Meanwhile, Gauvin - whose lay-up with 10:43 to go put the Red Raiders up 48 - 46 for the first time since leading 2-0 - was impressed with the determination his team displayed after facing some adversity. ""in the second half we showed what Fitchburg basketball is all about," said Gauvin. "I think that was the best game we played all year together as a team." A Jekyll and Hyde type of mood swing best described the Raiders contrasting style of play from the first to the second half. And in bringing out some of the worst the Raiders had to offer was Murphy and teammate Matt Panella (12 points) breaking out some of their best. Murphy wasted no time getting hot and scored 18 of the Patriots first 21 points, including burying back to back preys to help the Patriots grab a 21 -13 lead. But the Raiders clawed back, and after Thomeas Berjoan (11 points) took an offensive charge, set out on a 9-1 run, cutting the Patriots lead to two on a Berjoan runner. Close, physical play ensued, and Graciano was called for a personal foul. Disputing the call, Grutchfield came out of the coaches box to pick up a technical, and sent Murphy to the line where he drained three of four freebies for a 27-24 lead. Graciano later went the charity stripe to knock down a lay up, cutting the lead back to one. But Murphy and his Pats continued their rally, and proceeded to close out the half outscoring the Raiders on a 12-4 run. "They were playing real good basketball- Murphy was shooting the lights out in place," Grutchfield said, "But we just outlasted them". Breaking out of their triangle-and two defense, the Raiders adjusted into a straight man in the second half. The move paid off, as the Pats striggled to get the ball over half-court, and started fouling. "We were playing real physical,"MacLeod said. "Thats what happens when you attack the ball." The result landed the Raiders in the bonus with over 10 minutes to go, and featured Fitchburgs Mark Gabriel (10 points) hitting eight straight from the charity stripe. During the span, the Raiders combined to hit 19 of 23 from the line. Underneath the battle was being won by Leavitt and Gauvin, who tipped in numerous shots as part of a 24-12 run, and 54-51 lead the Raiders would never relinquish. North Middlesex's Kevin Amante scored all 11 of his points in the second half, including hitting three treys. In jayvee action Fitchburg hung on down the stretch to top the Patriots, 68-65.