By: Logan Paronto
Keene, NH – Keene claimed the top spot in the Division I standings with a 69-64 victory over Portsmouth on Friday night.
Not even a snowstorm could stop fans from gathering to watch the top two teams in D-I battle it out for their rights to the top spot in the standings. The opening quarter started off with a pair of buckets from Portsmouth, including a layup from Derek Swartz. Javon Messiah would grab the first bucket for Keene, but it was the Clippers who would end the first ahead 11-10.
Portsmouth would grab momentum in the second quarter, going on a 13-6 run led by a pair of threes from Zavier Lambert. Jamal Stanley would answer with two back-to-back three pointers for the Blackbirds. Despite his efforts, the Clippers would go into half leading 27-21.
The intensity jumped up a notch in the third, with both teams coming away with big-time blocks in the opening minutes. The Blackbirds would be the first to turn their defense into offense, jumping to a 36-35 lead around the four-minute mark in the quarter. The Keene scoring would mainly come from Stanley and Messiah, with Messiah nailing two from distance. During the run, Isaiah Reis, who had just five points at half, caught fire leading the Clipper charge with 13 third-quarter points. Keene would end the third up 47-46 after scoring 26 in the quarter.
Reis and Fitch Hennessy would each trade a pair of threes to start the final quarter before Stanley’s electrifying put-back dunk that gave Keene a 58-55 lead.
“I saw Javon doing his thing and when I saw that he missed the layup, I knew I was gonna get up there and throw it down,” Jamal said after the game. “It really shifted the moment for us.”
Before long, it would be Stanley’s dunk that gave the Blackbirds the boost they needed despite Reis doing all he could for Portsmouth. Late in the game, Keene leaned on their experience to get the job done, and they answered the call. Messiah and Hennessy’s free throws each netted two free throws to put away the visiting Clippers and claim their spot on top of the standings.
“We are lucky to have the guys that we do, Javon and Fitch are our seniors and really our horses and the way they play makes it easy for other guys to find their rhythm within the game and within our offense, ” Keene head coach Ray Boulay said. “Then we got Jamal who is one of the most unselfish guys we got. I really think he is one of the best juniors in the state and I’m glad we’ve got him wearing orange and black.”
Messiah led the way for Keene with a team-high 21, with Stanley (15) and Hennessy (14) both scoring in double-figures. For the Clippers, Isaiah Reis led the way with 30 points, including 25 in the second half.
With the win, The Blackbirds sit atop the division at 10-1 and in the middle of a nine-game winning streak. Portsmouth now sits at 10-2 following the loss.