Cambridge streak at 44

Rymer, Carrigan too much for Needham

WORCESTER — When push came to shove, Cambridge’s size inside was simply too much.

Behind double-doubles from Daniel Rymer (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Dimon Carrigan (14 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks), the defending Division 1 state champion Falcons held off a second half charge by Needham and defeated the Rockets, 50-45, in the Division 1 state semifinal last night at WPI.

Cambridge (23-0) advances to the final for the second consecutive season and increases its winning streak to 44 games.

All game long the Falcons dominated the Rockets (205) on the glass, holding a 25-7 advantage at halftime before finishing with a 4520 edge for the game.

Coach Lance Dottin noted how Carrigan and Rymer have carried the load for Cambridge all season.

“You cannot say enough about (Carrigan and Rymer) and how they have grown,” said Dottin. “Dimon came up as a sophomore. To have those guys in the middle it means so much because they clean up all of our mistakes.”

At the half Needham trailed 27-13, but behind Will Cooper (14 points) and Thomas Shaughnessy (11 points) the Rockets came storming back.

Shaughnessy splashed a 3-pointer and drove to the basket for a layup to begin the half, and Cooper added a basket to cut the Falcons lead to nine, 31-22.

Cooper got the Rockets within five moments later, receiving a feed from Shaughnesssy off the pick and roll and finishing for an and-one layup.

With time winding down in the frame, Jonathan Cenescar gave the Falcons a bit of breathing room as his baseline jumper put Cambridge up 38-31 heading into the fourth quarter.

Cambridge was able to extend the lead to 11 points to begin the fourth, but the Rockets once again got back within striking distance.

Shaughnessy connected on a deep trey, and Brendan Monheimer hit one of his own from the right wing.

Inside Carrigan proved to be too much for the Rockets, however, as a put-back basket combined with two shots at the charity stripe gave Cambridge a sevenpoint cushion, 48-41, and all but sealed the victory.

“You cannot say enough about those huge rebounds, those blocks that (Carrigan) brings,” said Dottin.

“In my opinion he is probably the best player in this area.”

Cambridge built a 10-2 lead to begin the game behind their dominance inside as Rymer and Carrigan combined to score the first eight Falcons points off offensive put-backs.

Needham was able to get a spark on a triple by Monheimer and a jumper by Matt McKay to trim the lead to 12-7.

In the second quarter, though, the Falcons began to create some separation. Malik Correia hit a midrange jump shot, Rymer came up with two baskets, and with time winding down in the half Isaias Behre drilled a 3 to give Cambridge a 27-13 lead at the break.

‘To have those guys in the middle, it means so much because they clean up all of our mistakes.’ — LANCE DOTTIN Cambridge coach, on big men Daniel Rymer and Dimon Carrigan