Watertown shines with game on line
WORCESTER - With his team trailing by a point entering the fourth quarter, Kyle Stockmal knew Watertown was poised for a run.
"I could feel a run coming on," said Stockmal. "We took [Sabis's] best shot and we hadn't given our own. It was only a matter of time."
That time began with 5:34 remaining. The Red Raiders scored 10 straight points over a four-minute stretch, propelling the team to a 68-63 win over Sabis Charter in the Division 3 state final.
Benyan Kerman nailed a 3-pointer from the corner that gave the Red Raiders (22-4) a 49-47 lead. After a basket by Sabis's Keith Henry tied the game, sophomore guard Marco Coppola hit the Red Raiders' second straight trey to give them a 52-49 lead and spark the 10-point run. Watertown never relinquished the lead.
"The back-to-back threes was the key point in the fourth quarter," said Watertown coach Stephen Harrington.
"Those 3-pointers were huge," said Sabis coach James Mack. "We did a good job in the first half preventing threes. That was a huge momentum change."
Other than the two 3-pointers, Watertown failed to convert a basket from the field in the fourth. But it made 16 free throws after Coppola's 3-pointer and went 18 for 24 from the line in the fourth quarter.
"Foul shooting was huge," said Stockmal (27 points, 11 rebounds). "We are a good foul-shooting team and we knew if [Sabis] had to foul, we could make our free throws."
Sabis (23-2) attempted a comeback during the final 90 seconds. Andre King (game-high 32 points) scored his team's final 14 in the final minutes. Sabis cut the Red Raider lead to 3 but Watertown was able to hit its free throws down the stretch.
Sabis had an opportunity to take command of the game at the end of the third quarter when Stockmal, Watertown's best player, was forced to the bench with foul trouble.
Kerman then stepped up his game, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half. He was able to create off the dribble and drive to the basket with relative ease.
"As a senior, I feel like a captain," said Kerman. "When Kyle [went to the bench], I knew I had to rise up and tell my team, 'I got you.' "
The first half was tight. Each team traded jabs with Sabis holding a 31-30 lead at the half. Stockmal and his twin brother, Cory, combined for 20 of their team's points. For Sabis, King put on a show. He was constantly shadowed by a couple of defenders but still got clean looks. He led all scorers at the half with 18 points.
Watertown beat Sabis in the Division 3 state final for the second time in three years. In 2007, Watertown scratched out a 62-61 victory.
"We were disappointed we didn't get here last year," said Kyle Stockmal. "We aren't happy unless we win. It means everything for us to win and I am glad I ended my career on a win."
