North Lake Holds Off Warriors, 81-74

#3 Rollsky Edouard
#3 Rollsky Edouard

LOCHE SHELDRAKE, N.Y. ---- Massasoit sank 13 3s, six coming from Rollsky Edouard (Holbrook), but a late spurt by the No. 3 seed North Lake Blazers proved to be the difference as the Warriors fell, 81-74, on Friday afternoon.

Massasoit (20-8) closes out its first-ever NJCAA National appearance on Saturday facing No. 8 Minnesota West at 12 PM.

Five different Warriors made at least one 3-pointer as the team shot 50 percent from downtown, making 13 of 26 attempts. Edouard was 6-for-9 from long range en route to 20 points and added seven boards and four assists.

Mark Georges (Avon) poured in 14 points, followed by 12 points each from Mark Munroe (Quincy) and Rael Handy (Easton). Munroe pulled down seven rebounds and Handy dished out a team-high eight assists.

Jared Costa-Haywood (Stoughton) chipped in with nine points, draining 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Just as the Warriors did the day before against Nassau, they came out firing and not afraid of the North Lake Blazers. North Lake (22-12), the reigning NJCAA National Champs from a season ago, with eight returners on its roster, did not scare the feisty Warrior squad.

Massasoit jumped out to a 13-5 advantage, with Georges, Edouard and Bobby Belezos (Holbrook) all nailing 3s and Munroe adding two layups to force a timeout by the team from Texas.

The Blazers fought back into the game and tied it at 17-all off a 3-pointer by Landen Stephens with 12:30 left in the opening stanza.

Later in the half, trailing 34-33, Massasoit turned up the heat going on a 7-0 run, five points coming from Edouard to lead 40-34 with 1:45 left. But the Lakers responded quickly with a 7-0 run of their own to lead 41-40 at the half.

North Lake would lead the rest of the way, but not without some pressure from the Warriors.

The Blazers outscored Massasoit 17-8 over the first 7:57 of the second half, to lead 58-48. On two different occasions, the Warriors would get as close as the three points, the second time coming with 3:37 left when Edouard buried his sixth trey of the night, with North Lake clinging to a 70-67 lead.

Unfortunately the Warriors could get no closer as the Blazers held on for the victory.

North Lake out-rebounded Massasoit 34-28, including 13 offensive rebounds and scored 18 points in the paint during the second half.

The Blazers placed four players in double figures, topped in scoring by Byrale Carter with 24 points.

NOTES

The 13 3-pointers made were one shy of the team-high of 14, which were made during the Region 21 Semifinals vs Bunker Hill.

Massasoit finished with more 3-point baskets (13) than 2-point baskets (12).

The 50 percent shooting (13-of-26) from 3-point range marked just the second time all season the Warriors shot 50 percent or higher.