LOWELL, Mass. — Before Salem got on the team bus to head to the Tsongas Center for the state championship game on Saturday, coach Tom Doyle scrolled his phone contacts to deliver some motivation.
Inside Salem’s home locker room, Doyle – a player on the Witches’ 1990 state title team – dialed up a couple of past champions and program legends on FaceTime. On one call was Rick Brunson, a 1990 champion with Salem who went on to play at Temple and the NBA, and his son Jalen, the Villanova great and current Knicks star. The other call went to Scoonie Penn, a ‘95 state champion with Salem who went on to play at Boston College before becoming a McDonald’s All-American at Ohio State.
“I love being part of Salem basketball, and those guys never forget,” Doyle said. “They both talked about the best moments of their time was winning state championships in high school.”
Moments later, the current edition of the Witches boarded the bus to make their own history and put the city back on top.
For the first time since 1995, Salem can claim a state championship after holding off top-seeded Hanover, 57-51, for the Division 3 boys crown. As the final seconds ticked away, tears streamed down star Elian Rodriguez’s face, the emotions meeting the moment. It meant a little more for a city proud of its rich basketball tradition.
“It felt amazing to have that happen to us, knowing that they’re supporting us from a distance,” said Rodriguez, who poured in a game-high 27 points. “Everybody tells us, be ready, come confidently, but to hear it from a pro, from people who did it in the past at this school, it just feels great and it gives us the confidence to come out and get the job done. …
“I can’t even explain it. It feels amazing right now.”
Winning the program’s first title in more than three decades required a whole lot of Salem grit in the final minutes. The second-seeded Witches (24-2) led by 13 at halftime before watching their advantage slowly shrink over the course of the second half. But they never lost grip of the lead.
With 22.1 seconds left, Hanover trailed by two with the ball after a timeout. The state title hung in the balance when the Hawks inbounded the ball in their backcourt in front of the Salem bench, where the Witches made a championship-defining play. Rodriguez and senior Cesar Mesa Castillo doubled Hanover star Ryan Mutschler, and when the inbounds pass was forced to him anyway, Castillo deflected it for a Salem steal.
Salem junior Matt Kenney proceeded to make two free throws to make it a two-possession game at 55-51, and the Witches held on from there.
“Obviously that’s their best player, so they’re trying to get him the ball,” Rodriguez said. “Cesar is one of the best defenders in the state, so he deflected it. That’s a game-changer right there.”
Added Doyle: “Just a super athletic play. The kid gave his heart and soul on defense the entire season, and especially tonight. That kid’s a really good player, and to step up in that moment, and to get that steal, it’s a tribute to what he’s done all year, all the work he’s put in to become a starter and be our lockdown defender.”
Salem was threatened by Hanover (23-2) several times down the stretch, but never wavered. The Hawks put junior guard Kellan Balducci on Rodriguez in the fourth quarter, and he was a nuisance to Salem’s junior star as he face-guarded him, denied him the ball and even talked some trash to him in an effort to get him off his game. It worked in some moments, but Rodriguez still delivered a few decisive blows. He scored five straight points, including a step-back 3-pointer, that put Salem up 51-44.
The Hawks – led by Mutschler’s 22 points – never quit as they made their late surge. But Salem made enough plays – including a key offensive rebound, and Rodriguez drawing a foul in the final minute that helped milk the clock – and stops to pull out the win. Experience in tight moments against one of the toughest schedules in the state proved vital.
“We’ve been there before,” Rodriguez said. “We never fold.”
About 45 minutes after the final buzzer, Salem walked out – trophy in tow – to the side entrance of the Tsongas Center to board the bus back home. Outside the doors, a crowd of fans and family greeted them with loud cheers.
“It’s so special,” Doyle said. “The community is spectacular. I’ve lived there my whole life, played there my whole life, coached there, I wouldn’t want it any other way. The Salem pride, this is unbelievable. To get one as a player and now one as a coach, it’s special.”
