Freshmen lead way for Catholic Memorial
Josiah Adamson’s eyes widened as he dribbled down the right wing in the second quarter of Catholic Memorial’s Division 1 boys’ basketball quarterfinal against Lawrence.
With an open court ahead, the CM freshman knew it was time to dunk. So Adamson took three hard steps toward the paint, leaped high in the air, and flushed home a thunderous one-handed slam, igniting everyone wearing red inside Babson College’s Staake Gymnasium.
When Adamson and his teammates finished celebrating, the damage was already done. The secondseeded Knights had completed a furious 18-0 run, providing all the separation needed Friday for a 7156 win over the 10th-seeded Lancers.
“I knew it was time to put it down,” said Adamson. “It brings the entire team together. Everyone gets into the game. It’s a beautiful thing because you can see everyone wants it now.”
Despite playing on a hobbled right ankle, Adamson finished with a game-high 24 points. Fellow freshman Aiden Pires added 17, while seniors Jake Cofield (7 blocks) and Ryan Higgins (10 points) provided defensive energy and shot-making.
Higgins capped a dominant second frame with a 3-pointer from NBA range at the buzzer, giving the Knights a 39-21 halftime lead. Lawrence (17-7) never got within single digits the rest of the way.
CM (19-4), which spent most of the winter atop the Globe Top 20 before losing three of four to close the regular season, earned a berth in the state semifinals opposite the winner of Saturday’s 4 p.m. quarterfinal between third-seeded Franklin and No. 6 BC High.
“It took the tournament to get our mojo back,” said CM coach Denis Tobin. “I don’t know what happened, how we lost it, but we have our swagger back now.” Division 1 State
Worcester North 98, Lowell 52 — Seniors Teshaun Steele (17 points), Joe Okla (16 points), and Jaydon Sarkodie (13 points) all scored in double figures as the top-seeded Polar Bears (22-0) cruised to a quarterfinal victory.
“This was the best game that they’ve played all season,” said Worcester North coach Al Pettway. “We’ve been preaching playing all four quarters.”
The unselfish approached led to a commanding 31-8 first-quarter advantage.
Division 2 State
Bedford 69, Middleborough 43 —
Camden Shoesmith was a force on the inside, notching 24 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 14 Buccaneers (19-3) advanced to their first semifinal appearance since 2016.
Justice Buchanon contributed 15 points as eight different players scored.
Malden Catholic 60, Holyoke 43 —
Junior Matt Gaffney scored 16 points, senior Drexler Pierre put up 11 points and 11 rebounds, senior Messiah Johnson added 13 points, and senior captain Bo Moody had 10 rebounds as the top-seeded Lancers (14-9) advanced to the semifinals, looking to three-peat.
Somerset Berkley 55, Mansfield 41
— Mason Medeiros produced 16 points and five rebounds, Dom Taylor had 15 points and six rebounds, and Finn Bjork added six points and 15 rebounds as the fourth-seeded Raiders (22-2) advanced past the fifth-seeded Hornets (20-6) to reach the semifinals.
Division 3 State
Old Rochester 72, Dover-Sherborn 55 — Senior captain Robert Spenard set the tone for the second-seeded Bulldogs early in the first quarter as the hosts rolled over the No. 23 Raiders in Mattapoisett.
Spenard’s full offensive repertoire was on display in the first quarter, as he singlehandedly outscored the Raiders, 14-11.
Spenard also grabbed a pair of rebounds and took three charges early in the game to energize the Bulldogs (20-4), who advanced to the the state semifinals against No. 3 Pittsfield, a 76-65 quarterfinal winner over No. 6 Medfield.
Division 4 State
Bourne 71, David Prouty 46 —Mike Dankert scored 19 points, which included his 1,000th career point, Leo Andrade and Dom Quelle produced 18 apiece, and Nate Reynolds added 10 for the No. 2 Canalmen (22-1) as they reached the semifinals.
Burke 90, Monument Mtn. 60 — Jaeden Roberts poured in 26 points, Jaeshaun Roberts contributed 17 and six assists, and Malik Adamson had a great two-way game with 16 and seven steals to propel the No. 6 Bulldogs (20-4) to the quarterfinal victory in Great Barrington.
Division 5 State
New Mission 65, Douglas 54 —Lawrence Davis came off the bench and dominated, recording 14 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks as the No. 2 Titans (17-6) earned a berth in the semifinals for the first time since 2016.