Sharon Basketball Closes Out Attleboro

The Sharon High boys basketball team used a strong fourth-quarter run to finish off Attleboro, 72-55, on Friday night.

“I thought we got a real good team effort,” said Head Coach Bruce Jackman. “Everybody was involved. I was pretty pleased with that.”

Eagles junior point guard Brian Mukasa said, “We played pretty well, especially offensively; to put up over 70 points is pretty good. We’re finally getting the continuity we’re looking for.”

Sharon ballooned its lead, which was eight at the third quarter’s conclusion, to nearly 20 during the fourth period.

Jackman was glad that the Eagles passed into the post more than in prior games. “We finally got the ball inside a lot, which I think is a key for us, because it opens up our guard play. [Senior captains] Ian [Beach] and Kevin [Bartas] did a great job.”

Three Sharon players scored in double figures: Mukasa [team-high 25], Bartas [14], and junior guard James Fritzson [13].

Mukasa said, “Jimmy had some good looks at it. Ian and Kevin played big for us. [Senior swingman] Brian [Lawrence] gave us, definitely, a spark off the bench. It was an all-around effort tonight.”

Defensively, Jackman credits Beach to holding under wraps Attleboro junior Tim Walsh, who entered the game as the Hockomock’s leading scorer.

“Ian did a fantastic job defensively on Walsh. Brian and Jimmy did a nice job. Defensively, we played reasonably well. We battled on the boards; [Senior forward] Toby [Modebelu] did a nice job.”

Mukasa says that the Eagles’ putting the game out of reach with several minutes remaining in the fourth quarter was important because it allowed Sharon to avoid another last-second outcome.

“When it gets close, anything can happen. You’ve got to take care of business [earlier on in a game]. Down the stretch, we really put our foot down; we got stops when we needed to get stops. We put it away early,” Mukasa said.

Jackman was impressed with the fourth-quarter performance of Sharon junior guard Ade Bright. “He did a good job – put the ball where it was supposed to be, got some easy buckets for us, and gave us a little breathing room.”

Next up for the Eagles (9-6 overall, 6-6 Hockomock), who have now won two consecutive games, is another Kelly-Rex foe, the Franklin Panthers (10-5, 8-4). Mukasa calls the game, which will be this Tuesday at Eagle Gymnasium, “huge.”

Mukasa said of the Panthers, “They’re a very good team. We’ve got to be ready for it. Defensively, we’re really going to have to bear down. They’re going to play us tough.”

“Having a win going into playing Franklin – that’s a good feeling,” said Jackman, who adds that the Eagles will be seeking their first victory over the Panthers in many years.

“We have a lot of work to do; they’re a good basketball team,” the coach said. “They play really well in February and March. We’ve got our work cut out for us, there’s no question about that.”

Mukasa says that the Eagles are ready for the challenge. “It’s time to prove we can beat a very good opponent, and I’m excited for this opportunity.”