VIDEO: Monaghan's shot lifts Morristown-Beard into Prep final | ||
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Brian Monaghan hit a fadeaway three-point shot at the buzzer to give Morristown-Beard a dramatic victory in the Prep B state semifinals. Monaghan's basket allowed the Crimson to avoid overtime and secure a wild 76-73 win over Princeton Day School. The winning hoop capped a huge 27-point, four-assist performance by the senior guard. It also bailed out Morristown-Beard after the Crimson let a seven-point lead get away in the final minutes of this semifinal contest.
Justin Rodriguez had 14 points and six assists for the Crimson. Raphael Castillo scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Zach Dees also scored 13 points for Morristown-Beard. The Crimson built an 11-point lead in the second quarter, only to see Princeton Day charge back. The Panthers then went ahead by seven points in the third period, but this time Morristown-Beard rallied, retaking the lead and going up by seven with a little more than two minutes left. Princeton Day turned up the pressure, and tied the game on a putback basket by Chase Lewis with 12 seconds to go. After the ball was knocked out of play, the Crimson had 1.5 seconds to try to win the game, and Dees fed Monaghan in the corner for the buzzer-beater. John MacArthur led Princeton Day with 29 points. Lewis scored 21, and David Coit added 16 for the Panthers, who are 17-8 this season. Morristown-Beard improves to 19-3. The Crimson will face Doane Academy in the Prep B final game next Monday; that contest will be played at Doane. For sports video highlights of this New Jersey Prep state tournament high school boys' basketball game, click play in the box at left. |