When Will Nolan strode to the free-throw line in the closing moments of last Tuesday night’s game, the Marcellus boys basketball team was on the verge of seeing its perfect season float away.
Once ahead of Westhill by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs now only led the Warriors by two, and unless Nolan made both ends of a one-and-one, the visitors would still have a chance.
Nolan didn’t give them that chance. Both of his foul shots were perfect, never even touching the rim, and the Mustangs could breathe again, having won 58-54 to make it 10-0 on the season.
Marcellus knew exactly the sort of challenge Westhill could provide. The Warriors were 6-1, possessed a tough go-to star in Dan Ross, and always would play fierce defense to counter whatever an opponent could provide.
With the stands in the Marcellus gym packed close to capacity and loud student sections from both schools in full throat, the game lived up to all its early billing.
The first half featured three ties and 10 lead changes. Neither side got second-chance shots, and Westhill minimized turnovers as it answered each of the Mustangs’ early thrusts. Zach Barbaro earned 10 of his 14 points to serve as his team’s offensive anchor.
With the score tied again, 28-28, early in the third period, Will Fiacchi took over. Fresh from the U.S. Army football combine in San Antonio that caused him to miss the Mustangs’ win over Fulton Dec. 30, Fiacchi announced his return by notching six points in a 10-0 run that put Marcellus in front.
Of Fiacchi’s 16 points, 10 came in that third period, and by the early part of the fourth quarter, Marcellus led 50-35, and for the briefest of moments the drama looked to be over.
Westhill changed that by turning up its defensive intensity, holding the Mustangs without a field goal for seven minutes. During that time, Ross, who led both sides with 19 points, fueled a 16-2 run, capping it off with a driving lay-up with 2:30 left that made it 52-51.
Facing the biggest threat to its unbeaten run, Marcellus showed its own resolve, as Nolan and Fiacchi hit on back-to-back baskets and the defense forced Ross into a pair of crucial turnovers.
Though up 56-51, Marcellus still wasn’t clear. Free throws by Ross and Nate Nigolian cut the margin two, 56-54, and Nolan got fouled with eight seconds left. With tremendous poise, Nolan earned his 10th and 11th points of the night to seal the victory.
Scott Cotter, with seven points, and Joe Cornish, with five points, offered further support, as Mike McMullen (10 points) joined Ross in the double-figures column for the Warriors. Marcellus begins a four-game road swing at Solvay on Friday night.