THREE PEAT: Knights rally in closing minute to secure 3rd straight regional title
The Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team led Sunday afternoon’s regional championship game for a total of 36 seconds, by taking a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes and again 81-80 with a Yuno Matsuda layup with 28.8 seconds remaining.
Warwick, RI (March 2, 2025) – The Northern Essex Community College men's basketball team led Sunday afternoon's regional championship game for a total of 36 seconds, by taking a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes and again 81-80 with a Yuno Matsuda (Tokyo, JP) layup with 28.8 seconds remaining.
A pair of Alejandro Delgado (Haverhill) free throws sealed the deal and the #8 nationally ranked and top seeded Knights defeated Quincy College by an 83-80 final score to secure their third straight regional championship. The win sent the Knights to 28-3 on the season and head coach Darren Stratton picked up his 350th career win.
National tournament seeding and first round match ups will be released will be released on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights become only the second school all-time and first in 37 years to win three consecutive Region 21 championships. They match the run of Mattatuck (CT) Community College from 1986-88.
Trailing by as many of 13 points in the second half, the Knights methodically clawed their way back, led by the efforts of Delgado who scored a season and game high 29 points, including a near perfect 11 of 12 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 11 rebounds in the winning effort.
Ryan Pacy (Salem, NH) and Alex Johnson (Worcester) joined Delgado in double figures with 13 and 11 points apiece. For Pacy, nine of his points came at crucial moments in the second half.
NECC trailed by six at halftime 45-39.
Notes:
It was the fourth straight championship game appearance for the Knights.
NECC defeated Quincy for a second straight year in the championship game.