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Driving
Marianapolis' Gedas Bertasius drives the ball upcourt during a semifinal game against Cushing Academy. Courtesy photo.
By Colin Griggs
The Marianapolis varsity boys’ basketball team won in the NEPSAC Class B Semifinals March 5 when they beat St. Andrew’s 58-48. After the victory, MPS lost in the NEPSAC Class B Final March 7, 69-61 vs. Tilton.
Post-graduate Gedas Bertasius hit a three-pointer five minutes into the game to put MPS ahead where they would stay for the rest of the evening.
Bertasius (19), classmate Ike Azotam (10) and junior Zach Chionuma (12) all scored in double digits as St. Andrew’s and Marianapolis met for the third time this year. St. Andrew’s won the first game of the season at MPS, and MPS won by one point on Saturday, February 27th on the road.
The Golden Knights proved strong defensively and took advantage of their opportunities to win the rubber match and get a shot at that elusive Class B Championship. Azotam was great on the boards recording 17 rebounds, and sophomore Kristian Medina chipped in with a strong seven points to help the Knights reach the final.
At the half, MPS led 32-24 due in large part to a strong game by sophomore Mike Neal. Neal scored six points on the day, stayed strong defensively and grabbed key rebounds throughout the game.
The Hotchkiss School and Tilton Academy played in the second semifinal matchup. Tilton came back from a six-point deficit at halftime to earn the victory and a spot in the Class B Final. It will be the third straight year that Tilton and MPS meet in the Championship game, with Tilton winning each of the past two seasons. For MPS, it will be the fourth straight year they are in the title contest, having lost to St. Andrew’s in 2007 at the buzzer.
Marianapolis 65 Cushing 35
The Marianapolis varsity boys’ basketball team earned an 11-point victory March 3 in the NEPSAC Class B Quarterfinals. Avenging one of only two Class B defeats on the season, the Golden Knights beat Cushing Academy at home when it mattered, 65-54.
Despite an 11-0 run in the first half by the visitors, MPS was able to take a 36-35 lead into halftime. The game opened with post-graduate Gedas Bertasius making back-to-back baskets and giving Marianapolis a 4-0 lead. With 12:50 remaining in the first half, junior Zach Chionuma’s second straight score gave the Knights a 10-6 advantage.
Bertasius would make a floater and Chionuma would score again, and the home team started to turn on the cruise control. Cushing would not go away quietly though as they turned a six-point deficit into a five-point lead - starting with three unanswered three-pointers.
Post-graduate Ike Azotam closed the gap with a three-point play, and the lead would change six times in the last six minutes of play before Chionuma’s shot at the buzzer put MPS ahead 36-35 heading into the break. At the half, Bertasius was leading all scorers with 16 points while Chionuma added 13 of his own.
After the break, Azotam made the first basket to put MPS ahead by three, but Cushing responded with a three-pointer to tie the game at 38. It was the closest they would come.
Bertasius and sophomore Kristian Medina drained back-to-back three pointers and Azotam found classmate Matt Barboza on a great pass down low. With 11:11 on the clock, MPS led 46-40.
Marianapolis stepped up their play on the defensive side of the ball in a big way as the Knights held Cushing to just 16 second-half points. Both Azotam and sophomore Mike Neal recorded multiple blocks on the afternoon, but the signature moment of the game came with 1:13 remaining.
Azotam stole the ball at midcourt and made his way to the basket untouched for a large dunk and a 12-point lead. Bertasius sealed the victory with two free free throws as he finished with a team-high 23 points. Chionuma finished with 21 and Azotam with 13 on the day.