Apponequet boys’ basketball loses close playoff game

Mar 3, 2023

LAKEVILLE — The Apponequet Regional High School boys’ basketball team kept the game close until the end, but a flurry of late baskets helped visitors Dedham High School win 56-49 in the MIAA Division 3 State Playoffs round of 32.

Senior Josh Keller led the Apponequet Lakers with 19 points in his final game for the program, which took place at Apponequet on March 3. He led his team’s hot start with nine points in the first quarter.

“Our kids had some great looks but the basketball gods might not have been shining down upon us,” said Apponequet Head Coach Jim Cabucio. “I give Dedham a lot of credit because they made some shots at the end that they needed to make.”

The Dedham Marauders picked up the pace after ending the first quarter down 16-7.

Two three-pointers early in the second quarter helped the visitors back into the game.

The teams traded baskets and kept the score close for the rest of the second and third quarters: the first half ended with Dedham leading 27-23, and the third quarter ended with the visitors leading 41-38.

Dedham began the fourth quarter on an 9-2 scoring run to build a double-digit lead. 

Apponequet senior Marcus Kuriscak hit a three-pointer, fellow senior Logan Miller made a layup, and two low-post baskets from junior Nathan Levesque cut the deficit to three with just over one minute left in the game.

Levesque scored half of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, helped by the Lakers’ quick passing to break through Dedham’s zone defense which got the ball to the forward near the basket.

A couple of Marauders baskets after breaking the Lakers’ full-court press put the game out of reach in the final minute.

In addition to Keller, Kuriscak, and Miller, fellow seniors Harrison Lemieux, Jackson Gagnier, and Jeremy Marino wrapped up their Apponequet basketball careers in the game against Dedham.

“I’m very proud of our kids and our senior class in particular,” Cabucio said. “The resilience they have shown throughout the whole year is going to impact their lives for a long time in terms of getting knocked down and getting back up.”