The Boston Celtics were not the only players who pulled out a big win on Sunday, April 8 at the TD Garden as Westfield’s Matt Plasse would go on to swish five straight free throws to win the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association’s Red Auerbach Foundation Free Throw championship, held at halftime of the Celtics’ 103-79 blowout win over their division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Plasse, who went 22 of 25 in Easthampton on March 18 to edge out the defending western Massachusetts champion, Easthampton’s own Casey White, calmly stepped to the charity stripe on the Garden’s fabled parquet floor and went a perfect five for five to win the event.
Plasse and his family had quite the Easter afternoon in Suffolk County, enjoying their son’s halftime of glory, in which he edged out the central, northern and southern regional champs en route to the crown.
The players shot just five freebies, which were then added to their initial 25. In shooting 1.000 for the day, Plasse upped his total to 27 for 30 during the contest. But it wasn’t all skill for the scoring Saint, as he had a little good luck on his side.
“His brother gave him a wristband to wear that he got from (Paul) Pierce that has ‘The Truth 34’ stitched in it,” Matt’s father, Jim said, “it proved to be a real good luck charm for Matt.”
“It was a real honor,” the newly crowned free throw king said, “just to have my whole family there, in the Boston Garden, to hear my name over the speakers. Just incredible.”
Now spending the majority of his time playing on the Saints’ baseball team, Plasse is still spending lots of time working on his basketball skill set, as he is currently considering playing AAU basketball in addition to his diamond duties.
However, it’s a pretty safe assumption of what the best moment of his spring has been thus far. “Seeing Ray Allen and getting the ‘what’s up?’ nod,” Plasse said, “that was pretty special.”
A very special moment for a very special saint.
