Tech Boston Clinches Spot at TD Garden with Route of Hingham

By Kyle Schroeder (@kyschroeder81)

Taunton, Mass. - Playing on the iconic TD Garden parquet floor is something every high school basketball player in the Massachusetts dreams of doing.

On Saturday, the winner of the division 2 South sectional final between Tech Boston and Hingham would get a chance to live out that dream. Tech Boston made it clear right from start of the contest that it would be the team to play at the TD Garden, defeating Hingham soundly by a score of 69-44.

“I’m so happy for these kids, I’m happy for Dorchester, I’m happy for inner city kids in Boston," Tech Boston coach Johnny Williams said. "It proves to you that they are capable kids, and if you hold them to high standards, they will perform.

"We never coddled them, we never dumbed it down, our expectations are at the highest level, and they always step up to the challenge.”

After Hingham got off to a brief 5-0 lead, Tech Boston hit the Harbormen with a 17-0 avalanche to close out the first quarter. The tight on-ball defense forced Hingham into wild shots and turnovers, which allowed Tech Boston to settle into their fast style of play. Senior guard Maurice Works was everywhere for the Bears during the 17-0 run. He scored 10 points with all of his baskets coming in the paint, dished out two assists and recorded a steal to lead Tech Boston to a 17-5 lead at the end of one.

However, Hingham was able to figure things out in the second on the offensive end of the floor as they used their two junior big men John Lowthen and Jack Johnson to dominate inside. Johnson scored 11 points in the quarter with all of them coming right near the basket. Lowthen drew a couple fouls in which lead to him scoring three points with all of them coming from the line. Unfortunately for Hingham, Tech Boston forward Shamar Moore and Works combined for 13 points in the quarter, causing the Harbormen to still be down 32-21 at the half.

At the start of the second half, Hingham began to lockdown on the defensive end of the floor. After allowing Works to drop 17 on them in the first half, Hingham kept him out of the paint and only allowed one field goal by the team at the start of the third quarter. Lowthen got going on offense as he scored six points and senior guard Graydon Boyd got a basket plus the foul to make it a 36-31 game.

That was the closest Hingham would get.

Tech Boston ended the quarter on an 11-2 run to take a comfortable 47-33 lead into the final quarter. Tech Boston senior guard Walter Dew Hollis showed tremendous toughness in the third as he used his athletic ability to get into the paint and also grab offensive rebounds in traffic. He drew three fouls in the quarter leading to six made free throws which helped keep the Tech Boston offense afloat.

“The game of basketball is a game of runs, it’s just how good you can take those punches. We did a pretty good job of throwing punches and then taking them. Our mindset is to keep going and keep doing what we are supposed to do. That starts with defense and ends with defense,” said Williams.

Tech Boston started the fourth quarter with a 12-6 run, which was capped off by an unbelievable finish at the basket by Moore to put the Bears up 20 halfway through the final quarter. Moore finished with 16 points, along with Works who dropped 22 and Dew Hollins who scored 14. Lowther and Johnson scored 16 and 14 respectively for Hingham.

Tech Boston will try to continue its fantastic season Tuesday night at the TD Garden.