Brooks holds on to win Harrington
The third annual Patrick J. Harrington Memorial Game featured two prep school teams that fought until the final whistle.
A barrage of 3-pointers in the second half from Beaver Country Day had the Brooks School holding its breath until the final buzzer. It was Brooks walking off the Cathedral High School court with a 60-57 victory in the BABC Prep Classic to remain unbeaten.
Brooks (7-0) took it to the Beavers (4-2) early. After falling behind 5-2, Brooks went on a 15-0 run during which six different players sunk baskets.
It was on this run that game MVP and Brown University commit Tamenang Choh dropped in his first layup. Choh went on to lead Brooks with 16 points, and it was his physicality that allowed him to grab eight boards and six steals.
“He’s a smart kid and an incredible basketball player,” Brooks coach John McVeigh said. “He’s just really tough to play against. He’s our senior captain and the leader of our team. We are so lucky to have him.”
In tandem with Adonis Williams, who racked up eight points, eight rebounds, four blocks and six steals, Choh allowed Brooks to hold a decisive advantage in ball possession, forgoing perimeter shooting for strong play in the post.
“They worked really hard and got the rebounds when we needed them,” McVeigh said. “It seemed like every time Beaver made a run we were able to make a play or two to hold them off just long enough. . . . They never quit that’s for sure.”
Brooks led 31-18 at the half, and though it did not relinquish the lead, longdistance shooting by Beaver — all 11 of its field goals after the game came from behind the arc, including four from Donovan Crawford (15 points, 5-of-6 on 3’s) — helped close the gap.
“They made everything in the second half and we hung on,” McVeigh said. “We’re feeling fortunate that we got the win, we have a ton of respect and an incredible rivalry with Beaver, that’s why we come down here is to play a great team.”
Both teams played hard in a game that would have made Brooks alumni Patrick Harrington proud.
Harrington, a former captain at Brooks School who led his team to a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class C Title in 1981, died tragically in an automobile accident in October 2014.
Said McVeigh: “Patrick was a huge part of Brooks basketball, he loved the school and the team, he was part of a New England championship. To be able to come down here and honor his memory is special. . . . He was an incredible guy and we’re proud to be here for that.”
Girls basketball
Sam Mancinelli scored 22 points and added 10 rebounds to go along with eight steals as Bishop Fenwick (7-3) knocked off intracity rival Peabody, 67-52, in a nonleague game.