NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT: Senior Jack Cooley fights for the loose ball with a Maine East defender during the Regional Championship March 6. Cooley scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the 57-52 victory. Photo by Jeff Takaki

The boys basketball season came to an abrupt close against Notre Dame in the first round of Sectionals March 11.

After two playoff wins over St. Viator and Maine East, the Titans fell to the Dons in the final minutes, 64-62.

Knowing that most of Notre Dame’s offense would come from beyond the arc, the Titans adjusted their 2-3 zone for the bottom wings to play wide and guard the perimeter. Though the adjustment held Notre Dame’s two best three-point shooters to just two shot attempts, the Dons found offense from other sources.

“Based on scouting and what we had seen on film, we knew what four guys we always wanted to have covered,” head coach Scott Nemecek said. “Ironically, the guy we wanted to leave open had three threes in the game. That was a huge factor for them.”

The Titans couldn’t stop point guard Dee Gregorio, who sealed the deal for the Dons in the end after a four-quarter, back and forth battle.

“They only beat us by two, which shows how level the teams are,” Nemecek said. “Notre Dame played just a little bit better than us. I don’t think we blew anything, I just don’t think we played our best, and Notre Dame played their best.”

With Cooley and Monckton back, the Titans entered the playoffs strong, defeating Prospect to end the regular season and later a top-25 ranked Maine East in the Regional final.

“Everyone was back, and when everyone was on the team we were undefeated going into the playoffs,” Cooley said. “We were well prepared, with new plays and an all-new defense.”

Cooley’s return greatly helped the Titans entering the playoffs, as he improved the Titans’ play on both ends and boosted their confidence for the postseason.

“He protects the basket very well defensively, and that’s really important to us because we weren’t very good one-on-one on the perimeter,” Nemecek explained. “On offense, even if he doesn’t score, he draws so much attention that the ball gets distributed to other players.”

The loss of Cooley, Monckton, Hopkins, and fellow seniors Mike DeCosmo, Raul Hudema, Max Salah and Jimmy Snyder will take a toll on next year’s squad.

The Titans will now look to players like sophomore Jack Ryan and juniors Chris Bauer and Alex Garvey to step up.

“I realize how monumental the losses of our seniors are, but I know we’re willing to put in the time and hard work necessary to take us back to Sectional playoffs next year,” Ryan said.