Editor’s Note: Rich Rosa of Haverhill is a graduate student at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, majoring in broadcast and digital journalism. He is the son of Haverhill School Committee member Richard J. and Anne Marie Rosa.
The eighth-seed Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team lost its first game of the 2025 NJCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament 73-68 to ninth-seed Dallas Richland on Wednesday, Mar. 12.
The Knights returned to the NJCAA tournament for the third straight year. In the previous two years, they also lost their first game and finished fifth overall both years.
Northern Essex entered the tournament ranked third in the nation in points (2,811), points per game (91), field goals made per game (35), assists per game (22), and rebound margin per game (17.4).
The Knights had a 34-32 lead at the break after falling behind early by seven. Christian Sanders and Javien Kirmil each had six points in the first half. Joendy Rosario added six points off the bench. NECC shot 44% from the field, 33% from behind the arc, and 50% from the free-throw line in the opening half.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the second half. NECC led by as many as 11 points. The Thunderducks completed the comeback to advance to the second round to take on Dutchess, the number one seed in the tournament.
Alex Johnson led the Knights with 14 points. He shot 5 of 7 from the field and was a perfect four for four from the line. Kirmil finished with 11 points on 3 of 7 shooting. Haverhill High School graduate freshman Alejandro Delgado led with 12 rebounds.
NECC finished the game with 12 misses from the charity stripe and was 5 for 19 from three. The Knights had 20 turnovers, 10 more than Dallas Richmond. The game was tied six times, and there were ten lead changes. NECC falls to 28-4 on the season.
The Knights are now in the consolation bracket. They take on the Dallas Mountain View Lions on Thursday, March 13, at Herkimer College in New York at 11 a.m.