What began as an even matchup between the Marblehead Magicians and the Peabody Tanners boys basketball teams quickly turned into a star-studded performance by the Tanners, who took control in the second and third quarters. The rally in the second and third quarters was enough for Peabody to pick up a 56-43 win.
Upon tip-off, the matchup appeared to be fairly even between the two with back-and-forth scoring throughout the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the Tanners led the Magicians by three points. For Marblehead, senior forward Sam Thompson contributed greatly to the Magicians’ first-quarter success with numerous rebounds on both ends of the court.
The Tanners didn’t hold back entering the second quarter as senior guard Jariel Tolentino took control of the court. Tolentino, in the second quarter alone, grabbed five rebounds and scored nine points extending the Tanners’ lead to seven (26-19) entering the halftime break.
Despite Marblehead starting the third quarter with great energy, the Tanners remained in control and didn’t let the Magicians get back in it. Peabody started the quarter on an 11-6 run through the opening four minutes.
Peabody locked up Marblehead on defense, allowing just six points to take a commanding 46-26 lead into the final eight minutes of regulation.
Freshman Thad Broughton scored seven of his 12 points in the third quarter to keep the momentum with the Tanners.
Unfortunately for Marblehead, Peabody’s Tolentino was too much to handle, finishing with a game-high 21 points.
The Magicians didn’t give up, outscoring Peabody 18-10 in the fourth quarter, but there wasn’t enough time for a comeback. In the fourth quarter, amidst its comeback, Marblehead picked up a costly foul that was much to the displeasure of the Marblehead faithful. Junior guard Anthony Muse made a layup but was quickly handed a charging call by the referee.
Despite outscoring the Tanners in the fourth and getting a strong push from senior forward Cameron Quigley and junior forward Declan Gibson, each with six points, the Magicians’ third-quarter hole was too much. Finn Gallup and Thompson led Marblehead in scoring with nine points apiece.
It was an overall team effort from Peabody, which received 21 points from Tolentino, 12 from Broughton, and 10 from Stephen Brown and Mark Mendonca.
Marblehead looks to bounce back on Thursday when the Magicians host traditional rival Swampscott at 7 p.m. Peabody will host Winthrop on the same day and time.
