Monument Mountain Earns Road Upset in State Tourney

BOURNE, Mass. – Dom Calautti and Sam Barcenas made big defensive plays down the stretch Saturday to help the Monument Mountain boys basketball team secure a 71-67 upset win over Upper Cape Tech in the first round of the Division 4 State Tournament.

 

Barcenas scored 22 points to lead the Spartans, who got 17 from Finn Mason. Finn Wheeler and Calautti scored 12 and 11, respectively, in the win.

 

It was a two-point game inside of 30 seconds, but Calautti blocked a shot to keep the score 69-67.

 

After a timeout, Barcenas forced a turnover, and Wheeler sealed the game with a pair of free throws.

 

“It was a close, physical, competitive game all the way through in a tough environment,” Monument Mountain coach Joe Valerio said. “Down nine in the third, we fought and grinded our way back.

 

“We had huge minutes off the bench from Jackson Nelson, who helped steady the ship for us as we chipped away at their lead.”

 

Mason and Barcenas each scored seven points in that third-quarter comeback.

 

No. 20 Monument Mountain (11-10) moves on to the Sweet 16, where it will play at No. 4 West Bridgewater on a date to be determined.