Hudson Freshman Roland Blood drilled a three-pointer with 4.7 seconds left in overtime and Chelsea suffered a heartbreaking 57-56 home loss in preliminary round action of the MIAA Division 3 boys basketball tournament Wednesday, February 25.
The Red Devils enjoyed a successful 15-6 season but they were stung twice on opponent’s buzzer-beater three-pointers: on February 11, Chelsea lost the Greater Boston League title to Lynn Classical in similar fashion, only to be victimized again in the playoff game two weeks later.
The game against Hudson was a nailbiter from start-to-finish, tied 21-21 at halftime. Hudson stretched to an 8-point lead–the largest of the night–with 2:41 left in the the third period, but Chelsea closed the period with eight straight points to tie the score 35-35. After Chelsea took a 39-35 lead early in the fourth period, the lead went back-and-forth throughout the period, but Chelsea led 48-46 with 26.6 seconds remaining after Moe Osman made one of two free throws.
The Hoop Gods hinted that it wasn’t going to be Chelsea’s night, however, when Hudson tied the game on a shot that hit the rim, bounced high above the backboard, hit the top of the backboard as it fell, then slipped straight through the hoop. Geo Brito’s shot from the left corner at the buzzer bounced off the rim, sending the game into overtime. Things looked good as Chelsea moved out to a 56-54 lead in the final seconds on a pair of Hus Mohamed free throws, but the game lasted long enough for Blood’s heroics. Brito’s last second shot from the right corner missed, and the Red Devils had to absorb another agonizing loss.
Brito led the way for Chelsea with 22 points and Moe Osman scored 12.