Duxbury slips past BC High

"You know the semi is always going to be tough," said Duxbury coach Chris Sweet. "But that was as hard as any Duxbury team has ever worked."

The star of the day for the Dragons was senior captain Quinn Cully, who scored Duxbury's final three goals, all on jump shots. He scored the winner with 4:08 to play to cap an impressive second half.

"Quinn had a game for the ages," said Sweet. "He put this team on his shoulders and played like a man among boys today."

Cully was slow to start, registering zero points in the first half, but in the second half he began to use the steady, driving rain to his advantage. He simplified his game, attempting fewer fakes and jukes and using his speed and the sloppy conditions to get an edge.

The other star for the defending state champions was goaltender Makar Zaverucha, who stopped 15 shots, 10 in the second half and five in the final four minutes as the Eagles pressed to tie.

"I was never nervous. I was excited to get those shots at the end of the game," said Zaverucha. "I love every second that we play."

BC High netminder Frank Nemia was also impressive, stopping 10 shots.

Hakeem Lecky, who had two goals and an assist, and Matt Heatherington (two goals) carried the Duxbury attack in the early going.

Dom Fichera scored three goals and Max Shipp had two goals and three assists for BC High.

Duxbury, seeking its sixth consecutive state title, will meet the winner of today's semifinal between St. John's Prep and Lincoln-Sudbury Wednesday at Harvard Stadium.

Division 2 East
Concord-Carlisle 6, Medfield 5 - Senior attack Jon Messa scored with 30 seconds left in overtime to lift the fourth-seeded Patriots over the top-seeded Warriors, handing Medfield its first loss of the season. Messa scored three goals and junior goalie Robbie Snook stopped 12 shots, including two in overtime.

"He really stood on his head," coach Tom Dalicandro said. "He did everything he could to keep us in the game."

The Patriots owned leads of 2-1 in the second quarter and 5-4 in the fourth, but the relentless Warriors tied it, 5-5, with about five minutes left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Walpole 10, Reading 9 - The third-seeded Rebels erased a 9-3 deficit to beat the second-seeded Rockets (21-1) in overtime on Leo Ajemian's goal, his fourth of the game. Davis Butts added three goals and Ryan Izzo two for Walpole. Brian Merrigan finished with nine saves for the Rebels.