Taconic Survives OT to Get Back to Final Four

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Ceasar Santos scored three of his 15 points in overtime Friday to lead the Taconic boys basketball team to a 51-47 win over Norwell in the quarter-finals of the Division 3 State Tournament.

 

The fourth-seeded and 2023 D5 State Champion Thunder (17-6) goes back to the Final Four, where it will face the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 1 Charlestown (20-2) and Newburyport (19-3).

 

On Friday night, No. 5 Norwell (20-3) led, 27-22, at half-time after Ronan Coffey scored nine points in the second quarter.

 

It was a 35-33 Norwell lead going to the fourth. Christian Maturevich (11 points) scored four points in the third quarter.

 

Then, in the fourth, Taconic got points from five different players to tie it up and force OT.

 

The balanced scoring continued in the extra session. In addition to Santos’ points, Jamal Sistrunk went 2-for-2 at the foul line, and Martin Boua hit a pair of free throws.

 

Sistrunk ended up with nine points. Kyle McGrath scored 12.