O'Bryant Takes Down BCL Rival TechBoston in D2 South Quarterfinals

Rivaldo Soares and the high-flying Tigers are through to the Division 2 South semifinals

By Karl Capen (@Capen316)

BOSTON -  There is always something special about watching a Boston City League boys’ basketball game, and at Latin Academy in the Division 2 South quarterfinals, this proved to be true once again.

On a Friday night where a second quarter surge from fifth-seeded O’Bryant (17-6) certainly helped them to their 88-76 victory over fourth-seed TechBoston, it was the play of Eighth-grade point guard Dasonte Bowen that won the game.

Brighton Back Atop Boston City League with Win over Tech Boston in Conference Championship

Brighton defeated O'Bryant and Tech Boston to take home the 2017 Boston City League championship

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

BOSTON  - Talent has never been an issue for the Brighton Bengals over the past few seasons, but they’ve fallen just short of city glory with losses in the Boston City League tournament each of the last two years. 

Yet with old rival New Mission dispatched by upstart Tech Boston in the semifinals, the path was clear for Brighton (17-5) to finally return to the top of their conference, and the Bengals did not miss their opportunity, as they blew past the Bears for a 76-64 victory on Thursday evening at Madison Park High. 

“It feels great,” Brighton head coach Hugh Coleman said about the win. “We have a ton of juniors and seniors and this group has basically been together for three years. Last year we came up short, but this year, they’ve shown how much they’ve improved. It felt good or our seniors to go out this way because I’ve felt it was a few years in the making.”

No. 1 Cambridge Rolls Past No. 6 New Mission in Battle of Champions

Dimon Carrigan led Cambridge with 20 points and 20 rebounds in a dominant win over New Mission

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

LAWRENCE, Mass. - The defending Division 1 and Division 2 state champions met in a marquee affair on Sunday evening at Central Catholic High. 

And when the dust had settled, top-ranked Cambridge (19-0) proved to be head and shoulders above the sixth-ranked Titans of New Mission (15-6). 

Cambridge used a notable size advantage and implemented a full-court press to spark a 23-6 run in the second quarter with Titans stars Charles and Charlie Mitchell on the bench due to foul trouble, and the Falcons ran away in the second half on their way to a 91-52 victory.

Now the Falcons will advance to face host Central Catholic in the finals of the Round Ball Classic on Monday evening at 7 p.m.

No. 16 Brighton throttles No. 20 Dorchester at Tech Boston

Tyrone Perry and the Brighton Bengals remain a force in the Boston City League

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

DORCHESTER, Mass. - With so much parity in the Boston City League this season, it can be difficult to separate the cream of the crop.

Yet the Brighton Bengals proved to be a notch above the competition in a resounding 72-40 victory at Tech Boston Academy on Wednesday evening. 

No. 9 St. John's Prep outlasts No. 7 New Mission at home

Eagles junior Tommy O'Neil scored 19 points with a game-high 14 rebounds in a win over New Mission

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

DANVERS, Mass. – During the “Dog Days” of the MIAA Basketball regular season, it takes a certain toughness to overcome collective weaknesses against determined foes. 

On Friday night, St. John’s Prep proved tougher down the stretch than one of the best pound-for-pound programs in the Bay State, as they pulled away from a very close game late for a 67-64 victory over New Mission.

Hobbs Leads No. 12 St. John's Prep Past No. 8 Brighton with Late Rally

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BOSTON, - When St. John’s Prep needed a spark, Nate Hobbs was there to provide one.

Trailing No. 8 Brighton by 12 with just under seven minutes to play, the junior guard splashed home three three-pointers to help drive an 18-6 run that evened the contest up at 63. Then, with under a minute left, Hobbs drilled his fourth three-pointer of the second half to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.

Eagles’ power forward Tommy O’Neil proceeded to take matters into his own hands from that point on. The senior forward reeled in a key offensive rebound and sunk two game clinching free throws as No. 12 St. John’s Prep (6-1) picked up their biggest win of the season to date, with a 68-63 victory over Brighton in the BABC Holiday Classic at Cathedral High School.

O'Bryant Runs Away from TechBoston Academy Late

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

ROXBURY, Mass. - In the early going, O’Bryant has made it known that it is a force to be reckoned with in the Boston City League.

After a close loss to No. 8 Brighton earlier in the season, and convincing wins over Boston Latin Academy and Snowden, the Tigers kept their high level of playing going on Wednesday, using a dominant fourth quarter to knock off TechBoston Academy, 67-55, at John D. O’Bryant High School.

TechBoston (4-2) held a 46-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but O’Bryant (5-2) opened up the final frame with an 8-0 run to take a 53-46 lead – an advantage they never relinquished.

New Mission maintains status as Kings of the City with another win over Brighton

From Left: Charlie and Charles Mitchell are the leaders for defending D2 state champions New Mission

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

BOSTON - It’s rarely pretty when New Mission and Brighton meet in their annual clash at Madison Park High and that’s just how the defending Division 2 state champions like it.

The Titans (4-3) started slowly in their latest meeting with Brighton (3-2), but eventually pulled away for a 78-70 victory over their conference rivals to maintain bragging rights in the Boston City League.

“It was a typical New Mission-Brighton game,” said Titans head coach Cory McCarthy. “It was ugly, messy and disgusting, but that’s the fabric of our team and the fabric of our program.”

No. 9 Brighton outlasts No. 25 O'Bryant in a 98-95 thriller

From Left: Jordan Galloway (19 points), Mykel Derring (15 points) and Tyrone Perry (24 points) led the Bengals to a signature early-season win at O'Bryant on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

BOSTON, Mass. – There are no easy games in the Boston City League, but some wins require an incredible amount of effort on both ends of the floor.

Brighton (2-0) got out to an early lead at conference rival O’Bryant (2-1) and looked to be in control throughout the first half. Yet the Tigers gave the Bengals everything they could handle in a thrilling back-and-forth affair, before Brighton actually came back late to pull out a 98-95 victory on the road.