Clippers feeling positive about new direction in 2018-19
Without Kolek, Cumberland plays well in Mount Summer League
WOONSOCKET – With a brave new world awaiting them this coming winter, the Cumberland High boysbasketball team got a head start by coming together at just right the right time – as the fourth annual Mount St. Charles Summer League approached the home stretch.
The Clippers snuck into the eight-team playoff bracket as the No. 8 seed, then went out and upset top seed Ponaganset in the quarterfinals and former Division II rival Shea in the semis. Achieving a third straight victory against a higher seed nearly happened with the championship on the line Sunday night, but Cumberland watched as No. 2 seed Milford got hot down the stretch in a 49-44 final.
The win by the Hawks meant that for the first time since the league’s inception four years ago, the MSC Summer League trophy would be crossing state lines and residing in Massachusetts for the next 12 months. Milford trailed 39-36 with less than 10 minutes remaining and appeared to be trouble after missing 5-of-6 free throws to start the second half.
It was at the charity stripe where the Hawks seized control, making six straight at the line to grab a 47-41 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
A three-pointer by Cumberland incoming freshman Colin Silva cut the deficit to 47-44 with 4.6 seconds left. The Clippers appeared to be in business after Milford was whistled for an illegal screen with no time coming off the clock, but it was Cumberland’s turn to pay for a screen before the ball could be thrown in. Milford officially iced it with two more free throws.
For the Clippers, senior-to-be Jackson Zancan had 14 points while Silva knocked down two three-pointers for 10 points. Zancan’s classmate Mitchell Lydon was hot from beyond the arc early on en route to eight points. After a successful stretch that features a D-II title in 2017 and a Final Four berth this past season, Cumberland will be competing in Division I over the next two seasons. In addition to stepping up in weight class, the Clippers will take the court this season minus sharpshooter Tyler Kolek, who is transferred to St. George’s.
CHS head coach Gary Reedy does have some talented pieces to work with, witnessed by the program’s march to the MSC Summer League title game. Cumberland led Miford, 2116, late in the first half and also enjoyed a fivepoint lead early in the second half.
“We started to put it together over the last two weeks. The kids started to get used to each other,” Reedy said. “We had some injuries, but we’re also very young.”