RallyNorth.net

WAYLAND — Despite a subpar offensive effort, North Reading was positioned for an upset.

Behind some staunch defense and the inside dominance of senior center Jeff Tyner, the seventh-seeded Hornets gave No. 2 Wayland all it could handle last night before the hosts pulled themselves together and pulled away for a 62-45 Division 3 North quarterfinal victory.

NORTH READING — Bobby Rosano loves to get the home crowdgoing wild and he did just when he made a steal off an inbound pass athalfcourt and dribbled in for an uncontested layup to put North Reading aheadnine points over Arlington Catholic with 4 minutes, 31 seconds left in the gameyesterday. 

Nick Rosano knocked down a whopping five 3-pointes on his way to a game-high 27 points in North Reading's 65-47 setback to Hamilton-Wenham.

Bobby  Rosano score all of his 18 points in the second half as North Reading overcame a second half deficit to win and qualify for the state tourney for the fifth straigtht year. 

With each team nursing three league losses, Georgetown and North Reading hooked up in a must-win for both in order to stay in the race.

The Hornets and Royals played like, scurrying into overtime before Georgetown pulled out a dramatic, 71-65, decision. In the end, North Reading simply had no answer for Neph Carmona, who paced the Royals with 21 points and 25 rebounds.

Matt Sifferlen hit five of North Andover's 11 3-pointers as the Scarlet Knights hammered North Reading 76-37. Tommy O'Connell had 20 points, Sifferlen 17 and Derek Collins 15 for the victors.

North Reading hung tough with league-leading Masconomet until midway through the second half when the Chieftains pulled away for a 63-51 victory. The Hornets had six players score between six and nine points in a balanced effort. Ben Makowski and P.J. Dionne had nine points each in the setback.

A nine-point third-quarter lead and a four-point edge with 18 seconds left in regulation slithered through North Reading's fingers, ultimately ending with Rockport prevailing, 62-61 in overtime. Ben Makowski led the Hornets with 18 points.

Generating steals, fouls and free throw attempts, North Reading's backcourt trio of Bobby Rosano (team-high 20 points), brother Nick Rosano (17 points) and P.J. Dionne (12 points) was immense in a 67-46 victory over Triton. A 21-5 advantage in converted free throws made a difference for the Hornets (8-2).

North Reading sliced a 22-point halftime deficit to 12 but could get no closer in a 71-52 loss to Manchester Essex. P.J. Dionne led North Reading with 15 points.