Smith leads Cambridge to 50th straight

Cambridge turned the big 5-0 yesterday.

Khai Smith scored 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as the Falcons pulled away from Bishop Hendricken in the second half to win 65-47 at the Slades Holiday Classic for their 50th consecutive win.

“We really don’t focus on that number, we’re just taking things one day at a time,” said Cambridge coach Lance Dottin. “The wins are a product of the success we’ve had as a program the last two years. All we’re looking to do is get better every day.”

Cambridge (5-0) took control in the third quarter, going on a 12-0 spurt over the first 5:38 to extend the lead to 43-28. Hakan West (15 points) and Smith were the driving forces at the offensive end, while Smith and Jonathan Cenescar (eight points, 11 rebounds) refused to give Bishop Hendricken any additional looks at the basket.

“It was a lot better third quarter than our last game (against Portsmouth),” Dottin said. “That’s more of who we are as a team.”

Tyrone Weeks had a game-high 22 points for Bishop Hendricken (4-2).

In other action at the Slades Holiday Classic, Brighton coach Hugh Coleman was looking for a breakout effort from his team and he received it against Everett.

Laqu Howard scored 26 points and Quincy Taylor recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds as the Bengals (2-2) handed the highly touted Crimson Tide (4-1) their first loss, 76-71.

Isaiah Likely scored a game-high 28 points to go along with 11 rebounds for Everett, while Ghared Boyce hit six treys and finished with 24.

Levar Williams scored 32 points in the first three quarters as Burke (6-0) defeated Belmont, 69-60. Bryan Desir recorded 17 points and 14 rebounds. Danny Yardemian tallied 17 for the Marauders (3-2).

Malik Morris scored eight of his 10 points in the final quarter as Bishop Stang (5-0) held off Watertown, 57-51. Justin Lopes scored 16 for the Spartans, while Damien Perry added 13. Watertown (2-3) was paced by All-Scholastic John Korte with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Matt Price (18 points) broke a 60-60 tie with a 3-pointer with 1:30 left and Brookline (5-1) went on to defeat Cathedral, 69-64. Christian Andrews scored 16, while Mark Barrett tallied all 15 of his points after the break. Nate Duncan had 17 for Cathedral (3-3).

In the championship of the Highlander Hoopfest, Chris Edgehill and Paul Mahon scored 14 points each as Franklin (4-1) took a 48-46 win over Arlington.

North Attleboro (2-2) downed Reading, 53-32, in the first round of the Warrior Winter Slam behind 15 points from Josh Montague.

In the first round of the Barry Hutchinson Memorial tourney, Kelvin Kariuki’s 22 points and 13 rebounds paced Coyle-Cassidy (5-1) past Wayland, 72-57.

In the KSA Events Holiday Tournament, Joe Morrison netted 15 points as Foxboro (5-1) took down Bethel Park (Pa.), 49-37.

In the Winchester Holiday Tournament final, tourney MVP Liam Fitzpatrick notched 16 points as Winchester (4-1) toppled New Mission, 72-61.

Girls basketball

In the Marian Christmas Tournament, Dakota O’Brien notched 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead

Mount Alvernia (2-2) to a 50-36 win over Marian.

Emily Sifferlen scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead North Andover to a 62-38 win over

Londonderry (N.H.) in the second round of the Commonwealth Classic.

In the Pope John Holiday final, Allie Grasso had 10 points and seven assists to lead North Reading (4-1) over Pope John XXIII, 56-13.

Boys hockey

In the championship of the Christie Serino Christmas Classic, Kevin McMullen made 24 saves for St. Mary’s to stonewall Hingham in a shootout to help the Spartans prevail, 2-1.

In the championship of the Unkie Fitzgerald Holiday Tournament, senior Andrew Miller scored twice as Waltham (4-01) defeated Matignon, 3-1. Kyle Penton was named tournament MVP.

Casey Langley provided the offense, scoring three goals for Haverhill (1-3) in a 5-2 consolation-round win over Wayland in the Hillies Christmas Tournament.

Girls hockey

Amanda Blanchette scored three goals to fuel Bishop Fenwick (4-1) to a 6-2 win over St. Peter-Marian to take the St. Joseph’s Christmas Tournament.