Third-seeded Naps wake up in second half.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Steve Farley

The following correction was published March 6, 2007:

WORCESTER - Because of a photographer's error, Holy Name High School basketball player Nick Haag was misidentified in yesterday's Telegram & Gazette.

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WORCESTER - It's been three months since Holy Name senior Nick Haag had been at the controls, guiding his teammates to a Super Bowl victory in December.

Yesterday at WPI's Harrington Auditorium, Haag filled a similar role for the Naps basketball team as third-seeded Holy Name rallied for a 74-64 come-from-behind win over second-seeded Marlboro and advanced to the Central Mass. Division 1 final here against rival St. John's at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Panthers, who had 33 wins in the last two seasons, finished 18-4.

"I'm always ready," Haag said. "That's what coach (Jason Chavoor) always tells me - to be ready. I don't look for points as much as shutting my guy down. I felt I needed to bring energy. When I bring the energy to the court, the guys usually rally around me. We needed to play lockdown defense to win."

Chris Pinsonault knocked down a fall-away three for Marlboro as time expired in the first half, part of an 18-1 Marlboro run that saw Marlboro go up seven points 5-1/2 minutes into the second half. Dominique Price was forced to take a seat on the bench after picking up his fourth foul and Marlboro's deadly 1-2 offensive punch of Pinsonault and George Jordan was taking a toll on the Holy Name defense.

That's when Haag's leadership kicked in.

"We weren't sure what was going to happen," Haag said. "I knew if we were going to win, we'd have to step up in a big way. (Winning the super bowl) definitely played a factor. We all worked hard in practice in football. In basketball, my job is to get the guys going. It's chemistry, basically, and playing as a team. I knew if we were going to win, we'd have to step up in a big way. (Marlboro) came out and played hard the whole game."

Pinsonault poured in a game-high 26 points for Marlboro, including four 3-pointers, while Jordan added 16.

Ryan Baldarelli scored 23 points for the 18-4 Naps, the defending CMass champions who will be gunning for their ninth title. Ryan Brown added 18 points, Price 12, and Haag and Emil Igwenagu nine apiece for Holy Name. Unexpected was Igwenagu's game-high 16 rebounds and Haag's six boards and two steals. Baldarelli made five...