by Julie Gowel ·
Thursday, February 26, 2026
The Bromfield boys varsity basketball team secured a spot in the second round of playoffs last night in a victory against the Lunenburg Knights on their home court, 63-62.
Parking was nearly as competitive as the game itself, due to snow and a large turnout for the home team. The Trojans battled a relentless opponent, a roaring Lunenburg student section, and a fourth quarter that tested every ounce of composure they had.
The first quarter showed Bromfield working together to keep the score in their favor. Senior Jake O’Neil was fouled on a layup and calmly sank the and-one free throw. A crisp pass to senior Owen Balsis led to an easy finish, and sophomore Isaac Balicky drilled a 3-pointer to keep momentum on Bromfield’s side. O’Neil added a tough layup through multiple defenders as Lunenburg’s student section screamed from the bleachers.
The Knights refused to let the Trojans settle. With 34 seconds left in the first quarter, Bromfield went into the bonus. Lunenburg used a free throw to pull within one point, but Balicky answered again, hitting a shot just before the buzzer to end the quarter with Bromfield up 18–15.
The second quarter opened with yet another three from Balicky and then a solid block by O’Neil that flipped possession back to the Trojans. Sophomore Julian Kosiak threaded a pass to junior Jonathan LeGrand, who drew contact under the net and converted both free throws. Bromfield built a 7-point cushion and held it for several minutes before Lunenburg landed a 3-pointer, cutting into the lead.
The back-and-forth rhythm intensified and the Trojans held a narrow 31–28 lead going into halftime.
Lunenburg opened the third quarter with back-to-back baskets to tie and then briefly take the lead for the first time in the game, prompting Bromfield’s head coach, Anne McWaters, to call timeout. A technical foul on Lunenburg shifted the momentum again, sending junior Noah Petrossi to the line for the fourth time, where he landed one of his shots to tie the score at 35.
Bromfield quickly took back their lead when Balsis surveyed the court, O’Neil slipped under the net, took the pass, and finished for another and-one. Strong defense kept Lunenburg from scoring, and Balicky drained another three to push Bromfield ahead by four.
The teams traded baskets relentlessly. With just over a minute left in the third, Bromfield clung to a 44–42 lead before Lunenburg tied it. Balsis responded with a deep three to reclaim the advantage. The Trojans headed into the fourth up 47–44.
Lunenburg opened the fourth quarter with an and-one to put them within one point of Bromfield. The Knights seized the lead on a 3-pointer that ignited the home crowd, but cheers from the Trojans section wouldn’t be denied. “Go blue,” ”Let’s go Bromfield,” and “You got this blue” rang out while O’Neil was fouled and coolly sank both free throws to put Bromfield back on top.
At the half point of the period, Bromfield led 57–53, both teams sitting at three fouls. Lunenburg clawed back to tie the score but O’Neil wasn’t having it, sinking another 3-pointer to put Bromfield ahead 60–57 and securing him the title of game high-scorer with 25 points.
With eight seconds left on the clock, in a moment that seemed very familiar for diehard Trojans fans, Lunenburg launched a three and hit it, closing the gap to one point, with Bromfield barely ahead.
The game clock ticked down to 6.4 seconds, and the Knights attempted to foul the Trojans for the chance to regain possession. Instead, a jump ball was called in Lunenburg’s favor. Unfortunately for them, Bromfield grabbed a steal and when the final buzzer sounded, the Trojans had won 63–62.
For those watching from home on the livestream, the ending was even more dramatic. The video feed cut out with 30 seconds remaining, leaving viewers refreshing screens and texting frantically for updates. Inside the gym, though, there was no mistaking the result.
Bromfield fans cheered in victory while the much more somber Lunenburg crowd made a hasty exit from the gym. Coach McWaters emerged from the locker room dripping in water and Gatorade from a postgame celebration, announcing the team’s next battle in the playoff series.
The Trojans will face the New Heights Charter School at Bridgewater Raynham High School, located on 415 Center Street in Bridgewater, on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. New Heights Charter is ranked ninth in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 4 power rankings. Bromfield is ranked 41.