Tournament Update: Stoughton High Boys’ Basketball Sinks Hingham Harbormen

Trailing 2-0 in the opening minute of Monday night’s tournament game at Hingham High, sophomore guard Marcus Middleton sank a three-pointer to give the Stoughton High boys’ basketball team a 3-2 lead.

It was the game-winning shot—Stoughton went on to win 77-48, in a contest that was never really a contest at all—the Harbormen never posed a threat for the Black Knights.

With the Black Knights opening round victory in the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional Tournament over Hingham, Stoughton advances to face top-seeded Hopkinton (17-3) on the road Thursday night at 7 in the quarterfinals.

“We told them in the locker room afterwards that they executed the game plan,” Stoughton head coach John Gallivan said. “We gave them a grade of B+ on defense. There were a couple of breakdowns. Overall, it was a good, solid effort. Defensively, we felt that was where we were going to take this big crowd out of the game, especially the student section behind the [basket]. If you shut down the other team and don’t give them easy shots and make them work, it makes for a long night.”

Stoughton (13-8), now 10-4 away from SHS, handed the Harbormen their first loss at home this season.

Hingham (12-9) was the eighth seed heading into the tournament; Stoughton was seeded ninth. Both had the same record heading into Monday’s game.

Stoughton’s 14-0 run in the first five minutes of the opening quarter took the raucous Hingham High crowd out of the game.

“It was really important,” sophomore guard Aaron Calixte said of his team’s fast start. “We’ve played in an atmosphere like that before. Like the OA game, the first one and the second one, so we’re used to it. The Hockomock is a great league it’s always a good atmosphere so we’re used to it.”

Added Gallivan: “You don’t really appreciate it until it’s over because you’re always thinking ‘Oh they’re coming back,’ or ‘If they hit this shot,’ or ‘If we don’t do this.’ I tend to be a pessimist while I’m coaching. You look back and say ‘That’s a great way to start the game.’”

Stoughton led 23-9 after the first, 47-26 at the half and 68-38 going into the fourth.

Hingham never got into a rhythm offensively, unable to overcome Stoughton’s defensive pressure. Meanwhile the Black Knights had their shot going, burying the long ball throughout the game.

Senior guard Kris Joyce led the way with 26 points, including 14 in the second quarter. Calixte had 17 points, 11 in the second half, and sophomore guard Joe Bunce-Grenon added 10 points off the bench.

Check the media gallery for a postgame recap. Check Stoughton Patch on Tuesday for more reaction and analysis and footage from interviews with Coach Gallivan and Aaron Calixte.