Prepped for a full semi slate
The Brighton boys team has shown the ability to deliver a knockout punch in the postseason. The Bengals also let people know they can take one as well.
Trailing for most of the way Saturday, Brighton (21-5) rallied behind the brilliance of Tyrone Perry (32 points, 10 rebounds) to defeat Lynn Classical, 79-73, to capture the Division 2 North title. The victory sends the Bengals to the Garden tonight against Whitman-Hanson (19-3), which gave eventual champion New Mission all it could handle in a Div. 2 state semifinal last year.
The festivities begin on the parquet with the Div. 3 girls state semifinal between Amesbury (22-1) and Archbishop Williams (20-4). Amesbury defeated both St. Mary’s and Bishop Fenwick on its way to a Div. 3 North title and would love nothing more than to take out a third Catholic Central Large foe.
Watertown (21-2) returns to the Garden to face Hanover (21-3) in the Div. 3 boys state semifinal. The tandem of John Korte and Julio Fulcar have been immense for the Raiders in the postseason, while the upstart Indians are making their first-ever state semifinal appearance.
The Div. 2 state girls semifinal features a redhot Foxboro (22-2) against Arlington Catholic (18-6). The Warriors have been led by Hockomock League MVP Ashley Sampson, while Dave Brady always seems to have his Cougars primed for tournament excellence.
For those looking to head out to Worcester today, the other Div. 2 state girls semifinal will take place at the DCU Center. Medfield (21-2), which handled Hopkinton in the sectional final, will face Pittsfield (16-7).
Provided Mother Nature cooperates tomorrow, the Garden will host a quartet of state semifinal contests.
In the first game, Cathedral (17-4) will be looking to defend its Div. 4 state girls basketball championship when it faces Fenway (16-7). Masseny Kaba is one of the premier defensive players around for Cathedral, while wing player Dejah Jenkins recently cracked the 1,000-point mark.
Once the Cathedral girls leave the floor, the Cathedral boys (18-4) arrive to take on a familiar foe in St. Mary’s (18-5) in a Div. 4 state semifinals. The Catholic Central League rivals met here last year with St. Mary’s prevailing on its way to a state championship.
Two of the perennial girls basketball powers square off in the Div. 1 state semifinal as Andover (221) and Braintree (20-4) get together. Since 2003, the two have captured seven state titles (Andover four, Braintree three) and this has all making of an instant classic.
Needham (20-4) will be making its first state semifinal appearance in the Div. 1 boys game against defending state champion Cambridge (22-0, 43 straight wins). The Rockets will have to deal with Jakigh Dottin and big man Dimon Carrigan.
Three local teams will head out to the DCU Center in hopes of keeping their dreams alive.
Millis (16-8) and Quaboag (17-6) meet in the Div. 4 girls semifinal, Westford (20-2) and Springfield Central (20-3) compete in the Div. 1 girls semifinal and the nightcap is the Div. 1 boys semifinal between Franklin (21-2) and Springfield Central (19-2).