Morse Leads Wild-Card Saugus to the 3-A Title

Rusty Morse knows how it feels to be overlooked. Every time he and his Saugus High teammates walk onto a basketball court, he sees the look in the eyes of his opponents.

“I can tell they don’t think we’re going to be much of a match,” he said. “We look like a bunch of skinny little white boys. The other teams start to laugh when they see us.”

Provoking his share of pregame laughs is Morse, a 6-4, 170-pound senior whose long arms, pale complexion and sunken cheeks give him the look of a Dust Bowl refugee. But put a basketball in his hands and Morse transforms into an imposing force. He, more than any player, is responsible for what ranks as the greatest moment in Saugus High basketball history.

Before a Saturday afternoon crowd of 6,854 at the Sports Arena, Morse scored 29 points and had 12 rebounds as Saugus defeated Rolling Hills, 66-53, to win the Southern Section 3-A championship, the first basketball title in school history. The victory concluded an improbable ride through the playoffs that saw Saugus become only the second team in Southern Section history to win a title after entering the tournament as a wild card. Pasadena Poly, a 1984 Small Schools entry, was the other.

Saugus (22-9), whose opponent and site in Tuesday’s first round of the state playoffs will be determined today, won its sixth straight playoff game and clinched its standing as the Cinderella team of this season’s Southern Section tournament. The loss ended a 16-game winning streak for Rolling Hills (26-4), which was seeded No. 1. Earlier in the tournament, Saugus beat Katella, the second-seeded team.

“To have to win six games to win the CIF title like they did, they deserve a special award,” Rolling Hills Coach Cliff Warren said. “They just did everything right. Every time we were ready to make a run at them, they did the right things.”

Most of those right things were supplied by Morse, whose surprisingly quick moves to the basket and quick release kept the Rolling Hills defense a step behind most of the game. Morse, who averages 18.5 points and 6.2 rebounds, was most effective inside, making 14 of 20 shots, including 8 of 9 in the second half. He also blocked three shots.

“This had to be one of his best games because of the pressure of the game,” Saugus Coach John Clark said of Morse, whose career high is 31. “When we needed him the most, he was the best.”

Even though he had his second shot of the game blocked, Morse repeatedly challenged the Rolling Hills defense and played with such confidence he kept track of his points throughout the second half.

“I expected a lot tougher game,” he said. “I heard all about them and expected huge Goliaths, but they were just average size. I had 12 points at halftime and started counting my points. When I reached 20, the coach took me out but I told him to let me back in because I knew I had my shot going.”

Morse scored the last four points of the first quarter to complete a 10-point run that gave Saugus a 14-8 lead. Two free throws by John Hardy gave Rolling Hills an 18-17 lead early in the second quarter, but a basket by John Thomas 20 seconds later gave Saugus the lead for good. The Centurions constructed a 34-25 halftime advantage, then withstood each Rolling Hills charge in the second half.

Rolling Hills cut the lead to 39-34 with three minutes left in the third quarter, but Morse countered with four baskets to give Saugus a 47-36 lead going into the final period. Morse delivered the knockout blow with a three-point play with 2:29 left that gave Saugus a 59-46 lead.

Senior guard Chris Weber had 16 points and Thomas added 10 for Saugus, which shot 55.1%. Rolling Hills, which was led by Doug Gehr’s 18 points, shot a dismal 39.3%.

Clark, who continued the Centurions’ cinematic tradition by showing the team the Sylvester Stallone film “Victory” before the game, seemed transported by his team’s accomplishment.

“Our kids have magic in them,” he said. “There’s a magical spirit in them that allows them to rise to the occasion. All 14 of these kids have been touched by something supernatural.”

Supernatural or otherwise, Morse had the right touch Saturday.