Barker rallies late to win sectional thriller

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Aidan Mescall puts up a shot over Brocton’s Jeremy Weisner during Barker’s exciting one point home court sectional win this evening.

Trailing after each of the first three quarters, No. 8 seed Barker put together a stretch run rally to nip visiting No. 9 Brocton 60-59 in a Section VI Class C pre-quarterfinal round thriller this evening .

Trailing 51-45 at the three-quarter mark, Barker opened the decisive final period with a key 8-0 run on a basket and two free throws by Luey Castro along with buckets by Aidan Mescall and Owen Harris to rally into a 53-51 lead.

Brocton answered back with a 6-1 run on two baskets by Michael Garcia and one by Nate Laurito to regain a 57-54 lead.

Brocton stayed on top at 59-56 after an exchange of baskets by Austin McIntyre and Mescall.

However, Barker pulled back to within one at 59-58 on a pair of free throws by Castro with 1:45 remaining.

Barker finally regained the lead for good at 60-59 as a steal by Harris set up what proved to be the game winning basket by Mescall with 28 seconds remaining.

Rebounds by Mescall and Castro along with steals by Harris and Mescall in the hectic final 12 seconds finally put a lock on the victory and a trip to the quarterfinals for Barker.

Mescall finished with 31 as Castro added 14, Harris 5, Donovan Hefferon and Logan Murrell 4 and Isaac Monaco 2.

Garcia took game high honors for Brocton with 33, 29 of which came in the first half, as Nate Laurito added 10, McIntyre 9 and Jeremy Weisner 7.

The first half was a wild scoring battle between Garcia and Mescall.

Garcia had 15 (including two threes) and Mescall 11 (three threes) in the first quarter which ended with Brocton leading 18-14.

Garcia then tallied 14 (two threes) and Mescall 10 (two threes) in the second period which finished with Brocton up 41-33.

Brocton kept the lead a 51-45 after the third period but Barker rallied with a 15-8 scoring edge in the final period to claim the narrow win. Castro scored 7, Mescall 6 and Harris 2 during that key stretch.

Barker next visits top seeded Randolph in the quarterfinals at noon Saturday.

Barker’s Isaac Monaco tries for a shot as Brocton’s Donovan St. George defends.