RallyNorth.net

Sat, Mar 20, 2010 04:00 PM @ Winnacunnet

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	Final
Pinkerton	6	11	11	12	21	61
Winnacunnet	8	11	6	15	19	59

Mathieu (37 points) carries Pinkerton in thrilling 2-OT win

Saturday, March, 20 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

DURHAM, N.H. — Four quarters of Zach Mathieu weren’t quite enough for Pinkerton yesterday afternoon, but two overtimes did the trick.

Thanks to Mathieu’s record-setting 37 points, the Astros knocked off Winnacunnet to win their first Class L title since 1990, 61-59 in double overtime before 2,400 fans at Lundholm Gym at the University of New Hampshire.

The 6-foot-7 Mathieu, who was previously more known for his baseball prowess, led the Astros (19-6) all afternoon, but he was extraordinary in overtime, scoring 17 points and converting a 3-point play with 11 seconds remaining to seal the fate of the No. 1-seeded Warriors (20-5).

Not only did Mathieu break Bishop Guertin legend Skip Barry’s championship game record (34 in 1984), but his 112 points for four games broke the previous Class L mark of 106 held by Merrimack’s Matt Ripladi in 1992.
“Zach is unbelievable,” said sophomore forward Alex Patrikis, who dished out five assists to the big man. “I can’t believe his best sport is baseball, because he’s a great basketball player.”

Although all of the Astros played pivotal roles, there was no doubt that Mathieu carried his teammates, finishing with 12 rebounds and four blocks to go along with his 37 points. Besides his 14 field goals, other Pinkerton players made only four field goals.

“He (Mathieu) is a great player, but I actually think we did a good job guarding him, at least until the overtime,” said Winnacunnet coach Jay McKenna. “Then we couldn’t hold him.”

Indeed, Mathieu only had six points at halftime and 12 points after three quarters. With Pinkerton 4 for 19 from the floor in the first two quarters, Winnacunnet led just 19-17 at halftime.

Winnacunnet was equally ineffective on offense, although it managed to take a 28-25 lead into the fourth quarter.

That’s when Mathieu was just getting warmed up, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and 17 of the Astros’ 21 points in the two four-minute overtimes. He was 9 of 11 from the floor after the third quarter.

While Mathieu was piling it on late, Winnacunnet high scorer Jesse Gould (18 ppg) finally found the range. Held to two points through three quarters, he had three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and another in overtime in what turned a lackluster championship game into a back-and-forth thriller.

It was the first Class L championship overtime game since 1971.

“It was one of the greatest championship games ever,” said ecstatic Pinkerton coach Pete Rosinski, who used just seven players. “Zach had an unbelievable game, but everyone played a role. I can’t say enough about the way my kids responded today.”

Indeed, while Mathieu powered Pinkerton to the title, several of his teammates did play key roles.

— After sitting on the bench with two fouls most of the first half, Patrikis was adept at getting the ball inside to Mathieu in the second half.

— While Mathieu was being roughed up in the second quarter by Winnacunnet’s collapsing zone, junior Ryan Williams scored six of his eight points. His two free throws with 20 seconds left in the first OT helped force the second overtime.

— Senior football/basketball star Ben Proulx had the Astros’ only 3-pointer, scored seven points and hauled down nine rebounds as Pinkerton outrebounded the Warriors 29-19.

— Junior point guard Chad Park was a perfect 4 for 4 on the line late in the fourth quarter and helped break Winnacunnet’s press throughout the game.

But it was Mathieu who delivered the most, opening the scoring in each overtime and capping it all with his three-point play that came when he fielded an errant shot from Proulx, put on a fine move under the basket and then converted the free throw following a foul.

Gould’s desperation 3-point shot (21-footer) in the closing seconds was just off the mark, sending the Pinkerton fans storming onto the court in jubilation.

The Warriors did hit a huge 3-pointer when Shaun Munson connected with four seconds left in the first OT.

In the regular season, the Warriors beat the Astros 58-55 on a late 3-pointer.

“I knew this was possible, but I never really thought it would happen,” said Mathieu, who will play baseball at Franklin Pierce. “This is a great way to end my career.”

And for the Astros to end their season.