Monomoy Boys Basketball Falls Short Against Hopedale In Opener

HARWICH – The Sharks nearly pulled it off. 

 Despite poor shooting during the second half, the Monomoy boys basketball team had plenty of opportunities to escape its season opener with a win. 

 The Sharks suffered a 45-44 loss to visiting Hopedale in a non-league matchup in Harwich on Saturday afternoon after the visiting Blue Raiders never relented a 4-point lead they built in the final minutes. 

“I can never be disappointed with my guys when they give great effort,” Monomoy’s second-year coach John McCarthy said. “I think the effort was strong. We didn’t shoot well and we were terrible on the boards tonight, but that was a good team. 

“They are coached really well, they are tough. They have had some runs in the state tournament the past few years, so it’s a testament to them.”

Hopedale (1-0) garnered a 44-40 advantage with 3:03 remaining following a 3-pointer by Keigan Murphy. Monomoy (0-1) created plenty of open looks in the final minutes — especially from behind the arc — but could not make a field goal until junior Liam Flood sank a triple at the buzzer that brought the final score to 45-44.

Murphy finished with 14 points to lead all scorers, while seniors Jackson Rocco (13 points) and Finn Hyora (10) led the Sharks alongside Flood (11).

“We can’t argue with getting some of those looks, but we shot really bad tonight,” McCarthy said of the final minutes. “We’re usually a better shooting team than that, so we’re going to have to figure that out, but we will.”

Saturday marked the first test of a tough schedule built by McCarthy to challenge the Sharks during the regular season. 

Although Hopedale competes in Division 5 — one lower than the Monomoy in Division 4 — the Blue Raiders are a perennial postseason contender that will help bolster the Sharks’ strength of schedule in the power rankings.

 “In this new style of Mass. basketball, who you play matters,” McCarthy said. “Making a schedule that’s tough really does help prepare you and give you the better opportunity for a higher seed.”

 Despite the season-opening loss, McCarthy said there are plenty of big games that the Sharks are looking forward to this winter. On Jan. 11, the team will travel to TD Garden in Boston to face Bourne on the Boston Celtics’ home floor. 

 “It’s going to be amazing. We’re just excited to give these kids that experience,” McCarthy said. “We’re bringing at least 400 community members from Harwich and Chatham up there with us, and we’re going to have a party after the game in the Legends Club. It’s going to be really great.”

 McCarthy is also partnering with 2017 Monomoy graduate Chris Mazulis to host an alumni game at 6 p.m. on Dec. 27. The money raised from the game will benefit victims of the Larry’s P.X. crash as well as the Hubbard family. Chatham Elementary School teacher Shannon Waldron Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter Margaret died Oct. 14 following a fire in New York. 

 The game will feature alumni from 2013 to 2020. 

 “It’s going to be great,” McCarthy said. “The alumni are really excited about playing.”