ESPN

THE SUPER TEAM

Guard – Aaron Calixte, Jr., Stoughton
An exceptional athlete gifted with a tenacious motor, and one of the state's most dynamic scorers, the 5-foot-11 Calixte was the driving force behind the Black Knight's run to the Division 2 Eastern Mass. final, and asserted himself as the state's premier point guard. For his junior season, he averaged 19 points and six assists, and was named a Hockomock League All-Star. Calixte also stands out on the gridiron for the Black Knights' football squad.

Guard – Tyrese Hoxter, Jr., Charlestown
After playing in the shadows of former All-Stater Akosa Maduegbunam a year ago, the 6-foot-3 Hoxter thoroughly burst onto the scene and had a monster campaign for the Townies, leading them to the TD Garden floor for the first time since 2005 before bowing out to Brockton in the Division 1 Eastern Mass. Final. This season he averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Guard – Tyrell Springer, Sr., Springfield Central
After falling short of a state title two seasons ago with New Leadership, the 6-foot-2 Springer led Central to the DCU Center floor this season where the Golden Eagles captured their first Division 1 state title since 1991. The centerpiece of one of the state's most athletic lineups, Springer averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 7.3 steals. He is undecided on college plans.

Forward – Jake Layman, Sr., King Philip
The 6-foot-8 Layman was one of the most dominant players in Massachusetts this season, with the ability to score both inside and out, as the Warriors set a school single-season record for wins (18) before suffering a surprise upset in the Division 2 South quarterfinals. In 21 games, he averaged 26.5 points, 16 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, 3.2 assists and three steals. He closes his career with with 1,752 points, 1,098 rebounds and 391 blocks, giving him career averages of 20.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.6 blocks, 2.8 steals and 2.6 assists. This is his second appearance on the Super Team; he also captured the Hockomock League's MVP for the second straight season. Layman, who was named ESPN Boston's "Mr. Basketball" earlier this week, is ranked the nation's No. 62 overall senior by ESPN, and will continue his career next season at the University of Maryland.

Center – Sayvonn Houston, Sr., Brockton
A nightly double-double machine, Houston established himself as one of the state's most dominant true centers, making life difficult down low as the Boxers went 23-3 and made their first Division 1 state final appearance since 1985. He saved his biggest performances for the biggest stages, such as his 20-20 night in the Division 1 South semifinals, or his 22-point, 13-rebound effort in Brockton's overtime win over Charlestown in the Division 1 Eastern Mass. Final at TD Garden. Houston is undecided on college plans.

BEST OF THE REST

Jalen Adams, Soph. G, Melrose
Quickly rising as one of the Bay State's most complete scoring guards, the 6-foot-1 Adams took home Middlesex League MVP honors after averaging 21 points per game. He led the Red Raiders to an 18-2 regular season record, before they fell to state runner-up Brighton in the Division 2 North semifinals. Adams has already declared that he will be transferring to Wilbraham & Monson Academy next season, where he will reclassify to the Class of 2015.

Jaylen Blakely, Jr. G, Brockton
Like Houston, the 5-foot-11 Blakely saved some of his best performances for the crunch time in the playoffs, such as his eight-assist performance in the Boxers' win over Catholic Memorial. Blakely distributed evenly to Brockton's talented shooters and post players, as they went 23-3 and reached their first state final appearance since 1985.

Matt Droney, Sr. F, Catholic Memorial
A terrific shooter, the 6-foot-4 Droney was named the Catholic Conference's MVP after a season of averaging 20.7 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. He also became the eighth player in school history to surpass 1,000 points earlier this season. The Canton resident will be doing a post-graduate season next year at the Taft School in Connecticut.

Darien Fernandez, Jr. G, Wareham
The 5-foot-7 waterbug demonstrated a tenacious motor in leading the Vikings to their second Division 3 Eastern Mass. Final appearance in three seasons. Wareham was the state's last unbeaten before losing to state champion Danvers. For the season, Fernandez averaged 24 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals, and recorded three triple-doubles. He needs just 45 points next season to reach 1,000 for his career.

Rony Fernandez, Sr. G, Charlestown
Fernandez was one of the most outstanding point guards of the MIAA tournament, leading the Townies to a thrilling win over Lexington in the Division 1 North final before bowing out to state runner-up Brockton in the Eastern Mass. Finals. For the season he averaged 16 points and seven assists. He is undecided on college plans, but is currently fielding interest from Division 1 programs such as Maine, Northeastern and Hartford.

Joey Glynn, Sr. F, Cardinal Spellman
The 6-foot-5 Abington resident did it all this season for the Cardinals, averaging a double-double (18.5 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, 2.2 blocks) as they lost to Eastern Mass. runner-up Wareham in the Division 3 South semifinals. For his career, Glynn scored 1,425 points. He will continue his career next season at Bentley University.

Steve Haladyna, Sr. G/F, St. John’s Prep
One of two repeat All-Staters, the 6-foot-3 Haladyna was unable to lead the Eagles deep in their Division 1 state title defense, but he still leaves the Danvers campus as one of its most decorated basketball stars. He averaged 22.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, both team highs, and for his career he finishes with 1,392 points -- second all-time on Prep's scoring list. The South Hamilton resident will continue his career next season at Tufts University.

Malik James, Soph. G, Brighton
The 6-foot-1 James elevated his game when the Bengals needed it most, as they made their first state final appearance in school history, falling to Mahar in the Division 2 title game. For the season, James averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds as the Bengals won their first-ever Eastern Mass. title.

Jameilen Jones, Jr. G, BC High
BC High's season came to an unexpected halt as the Eagles loss in the first round of the Division 1 South tournament, but the 6-foot-2 Jones has established himself as one of Eastern Mass.'s premier two-way players. For the season, he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as the Eagles went 15-6.

Zach Karalis, Sr. G, North Andover
The 6-foot-1 Karalis was one of the driving forces for the Scarlet Knights, who went 21-2 and reached the playoffs an unprecedented 47th straight time. For the season he averaged 15.9 points and shot 46 percent from the field, to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Karalis will continue his career next season at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Kevin LaFrancis, Sr. C, Acton-Boxborough
After a stellar season in leading the 21-2 Colonials to a Division 1 North semifinal appearance, the 6-foot-6 LaFrancis was named the Dual County League's MVP. He averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds this season, and finishes his career at A-B with 1,012 career points. He is undecided on college plans.

Alex Lopez, Sr. G, Springfield Commerce
The 5-foot-10 Lopez led the Valley League in scoring for the second straight season, averaging 22.3 points as the Red Raiders went to the Division 1 Western Mass. Finals and took state champion Springfield Central to the wire. He led Western Mass. in field goals made (185) and total points (512). Lopez is currently undecided on college plans.

Damian Lugay, Sr. G, Weymouth
The 6-foot-2 Lugay led the Wildcats to a second straight 17-win season, before they were bounced in the first round of the Division 1 South tournament. For the season he averaged 18.1 points and just under four assists, and leaves Weymouth as a two-time First Team All-Bay State Conference. Lugay is undecided on college plans.

George Merry, Sr. C, Danvers
At 6-foot-7, Merry was a force at both ends of the floor for the Falcons, known for his ability to redirect shots as much as his scoring touch. He averaged 16.1 points, eight rebounds and 6.6 blocks as Danvers captured its first Division 3 state championship in school history. Merry is currently undecided on college plans, but showing interest from several schools in Divisions 2 and 3.

Marcus Middleton, Jr. G, Stoughton
Tasked nightly with locking down the opposition's top scorer, Middleton established himself as one of the state's premier on-ball defenders. Middleton averaged 16 points per game for the Black Knights, who won the Division 2 South title before bowing out to state runner-up Brighton in the Eastern Mass. championship at TD Garden. Middleton also stars on Stoughton's football squad.

Matt Mobley, Sr. G/F, St. Peter-Marian
One of state's most pleasant late-blooming surprises, the 6-foot-3 Mobley was one of the leading scorers in Central Mass. as the Guardians made it all the way to the Division 1 Central Final. For the season, he averaged 23.2 points in leading SPM to its most successful season under head coach Marcus Watson. Mobley finished his career at SPM with 1,175 points, and will do a post-graduate season next year at Worcester Academy.

Tyler Nelson, Soph. G, Central Catholic
The 5-foot-11 Nelson established himself as one of the state's premier shooters, as the Raiders made it to the Division 1 North semifinals before bowing out to champion Charlestown. He averaged 15.5 points and four assists this season, shot 42 percent from three-point range, and 91 percent from the free throw line.

Colin Richey, Jr. G, Whitinsville Christian
After winning a Division 3 state title a year ago, the 6-foot Richey nearly led them back, as the Crusaders lost in the final seconds to state runner-up St. Joseph Central in the state semifinals. For the seaosn, Richey averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 assist and 6.3 rebounds for the Dual Valley League champions.

Kamari Robinson, Jr. F, Springfield Central
The 6-foot-5 Robinson was a rock underneath for the Golden Eagles, who captured their first Division 1 state title since 1991 and third overall. He was a nightly double-double threat this season, averaging 13 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists, as Central went undefeated in Massachusetts.

Michael Thorpe, Sr. G, Newton North
The Tigers went run-and-gun this season, and the 5-foot-11 Thorpe kept them thoroughly going. One year after reaching the Division 1 South finals, he nearly led them back, before losing to state runner-up Brockton in the semifinals. He was named the Bay State Conference's MVP, with averages of 15 points and four assists. Thorpe will continue his career next season at Emerson College.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MARCUS MIDDLETON, STOUGHTON
The kind of on-ball pressure Middleton provided nightly to some of the state's premier scorers can take its toll physically, but he was routinely up to the task. As teammate Aaron Calixte saw a barrage of double-teams and box-and-one's, Middleton did his part at the other end, hedging off screens and staying one one's hip, chasing them all over the floor. As much praise as Calixte will get in this unprecedented season for the Knights, an equal amount must be thrown Middleton's way.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
G – Marcus Middleton, Jr., Stoughton
G – Anthony Hodges, Sr., Holy Name
G – Darien Fernandez, Jr., Wareham
F – Jake Layman, Sr., King Philip
C – George Merry, Sr., Danvers

COACH OF THE YEAR
HUGH COLEMAN, BRIGHTON
The Bengals lost their best player before the start of the tournament, and backpedaled into the playoffs with uninspiring losses to Acton-Boxborough and Madison Park. Yet in the end, they were one step away from the school's first-ever state title. Coleman is an unabashed disciple of the legendary Jack O'Brien, and staples of those historic Charlestown squads are sprinkled all over the program. Not only has Coleman done a remarkable job bringing the team to heights never before reached in his three seasons at the helm, but this is a program that will be dangerous for the next few years.

RUNNERS-UP:
Paul Connolly, Newton North
Dean O'Connor, Franklin

FINALISTS:
Kevin Brogioli, Wareham
John Gallivan, Stoughton
Reggie Hobbs, Lexington
Malcolm Smith, East Boston
Chad Softic, Mahar
John Walsh, Danvers
Dennis Wilson, Madison Park

The MIAA will crown six state champions in boys and girls basketball on Saturday at Worcester's DCU Center. Here are my thoughts on how those six games will play out:

DIVISION 3 GIRLS: PENTUCKET (22-4) VS. SABIS (21-5)
Pentucket Players to Watch: Tess Nogueira, Jr. C; Leigh McNamara, Sr. F; Sarah Higgins, Sr. F; Nicole Viselli, Jr. G; Alex Moore, Jr. G; Kelsie McNamara, Fr. G
Sabis Players to Watch: Jazmine Collins, Jr. G; Janaiya Sanchez, Fr. G; Shyanne Washington, Jr. F; Madison Sinkfield, Fr. F; Casie Thurber, Soph. C.
Analysis: After coming close the last couple of years, Sabis finally got over the hump in their competitive Western Mass. bracket, to land here at the DCU Center. Plain and simple, these Lady Bulldogs are on a mission; and led by a core that includes the dynamic Collins, this is a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately (and this will be the operative word for many of my picks), they run into a Pentucket team that is quite simply swarming on defense. The Sachems' lineup =is among the best in Division 3, and they're on a roll. Pentucket is also motivated -- the last time they were here, in 2010, the Sachems were penned as a favorite, only to run into a gritty Lee team that, quite frankly, pressed like kamikazes. Hall's Pick: Pentucket over Sabis

DIVISION 3 BOYS: DANVERS (20-4) VS. ST. JOSEPH CENTRAL (20-5)
Danvers Players to Watch: George Merry, Sr. C; Nick McKenna, Jr. G; Nick Bates, Jr. G; Eric Martin, Jr. G; Jon Amico, Sr. G.
St. Joe's Players to Watch: Taverick "Tank" Roberson, Jr. G; Mike McMahon, Sr. F; Joe Wiggins, Sr. F; Lavante Wiggins, Jr. G; Jon Bianchi, Jr. G
Analysis: Credit to St. Joe's for playing an ambitious non-league schedule, which included a rockfight of a bout with Holy Name back in December, and get ready to be introduced to the spunky power that is Roberson -- in my opinion, he's every bit of a tank as his nickname suggests. But after putting in arguably its best performance of the year Monday night in the Eastern Mass. Finals against Wareham, I'm convinced Danvers will come out on top in this one. the 6-foot-7 Merry can step out on the perimeter and facilitate offense for shooters like McKenna and Bates, as much as he can take it inside. Danvers coach John Walsh goes with some of the same offensive principles as his cousin Watertown head coach and two-time D3 state champ Steve Harrington. And if you thought Harrington's four-out, drive-and-kick, dribble drive-oriented motion offensive was frustrating enough, imagine what it's like with size.
Hall's Pick: Danvers over St. Joseph Central

DIVISION 2 GIRLS: READING (24-0) VS. TYNGSBOROUGH (23-1)
Reading Players to Watch: Olivia Healy, Jr. G; Morgan O'Brien, Jr. G; Melissa DalPozzo, Sr. F; Katie Clements, Sr. G; Katherine Callahan, Sr. G.
Tyngsborough Players to Watch: Lauren Iadarola, Jr. F; Amanda Hogan, Jr. G; Helena Hamilton, Sr. F; Morgan Mitchell, Jr. C.
Analysis: The Mid-Wach C champion Tigers avoided a clean sweep of Central Mass. on Wednesday with a dominant 50-35 win over Palmer out in Springfield, getting quality production out of Iadarola, Hogan and Hamilton along the way. But Reading has had the tougher route here, putting away stalwarts Wachusett, Bishop Feehan, Arlington Catholic (twice) and Scituate to get to DCU Center floor. Look for Healy to get hers, but most crucial in the Rockets' overtime defeat of Scituate on Tuesday night was the play of O'Brien, who scored 33 points. Look for her to be the X-factor in this one.
Hall's Pick: Reading over Tyngsborough

DIVISION 2 BOYS: BRIGHTON (21-4) VS. MAHAR (21-3)
Brighton Players to Watch: Malik James, Soph. G; Theo Oribhabor, Jr. G; Daivon Edwards, Jr. G; Prince Unaegbu, Jr. F; Jerard Mayes, Sr. F; Tre Dowman, Sr. C
Mahar Players to Watch: Travon Godette, Sr. F; Jesse LaCroix, Sr. G; Phil DiPhillipo, Sr. G; Josef Whitman, Jr. F; Nate Martin, Sr. C; Darwin Duncan, Sr. F.
Analysis: The relationship between Brighton coach Hugh Coleman and his mentor, legendary Charlestown coach Jack O'Brien, is well-documented. There are ripples of O'Brien's system and tactics sprinkled throughout the Bengals; and we can assure you, there are tons of coaches in Eastern Mass. rooting for Coleman, as good a guy as they come, on Saturday. That aside, the Bengals figure to be favorites in this one. Godette, DiPhillipo and LaCroix combined for impressive whipping of St. Bernard's on Tuesday, but they haven't seen anything like Brighton. Hardened by a brutal schedule, the Bengals lost their best player, sophomore Nick Simpson, before the playoffs, yet somehow haven't dropped off. There's plenty to like -- a frustrating extended 2-3 zone, a swarming press, and a gifted shooter in Edwards -- and I think this will be another big one for promising sophomore point guard Malik James.
Hall's Pick: Brighton over Mahar

DIVISION 1 GIRLS: ANDOVER (26-0) VS. HOLYOKE (22-2)
Andover Players to Watch: Nicole Boudreau, Sr. G; Ally Fazio, Sr. G; Devon Caveney, Sr. G; Angelice Gonzalez, Jr. G; Jackie Alois, Jr. F; Rebecca Alois, Soph. F.
Holyoke Players to Watch: Monique Heard, Sr. G; Alison Littles, Sr. C; Kirsy Segarra, Jr. G; Nyomi Walker, Jr. F; Selena Yates, Sr. G.
Analysis: Our friend and Pioneer Valley legend Adam Harrington is getting giddy over this "dream matchup", Western Mass.'s premier point guard versus, quite frankly, the best female guard to come through Massachusetts in over a decade. We think the crowd on hand will be impressed with Heard, but the Golden Warriors -- despite usually being undersized -- have proven again and again to be unstoppable. It just seems whatever the score is going into the fourth quarter, the Warriors simply turn around and take ownership of it. When you have a team of athletes that get up and down as quickly as these girls, plus a superstar with NBA range, that's a vicious combination.
Hall's Pick: Andover over Holyoke

DIVISION 1 BOYS: BROCKTON (23-2) VS. SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL (23-1)
Brockton Players to Watch: Jaylen Blakely, Jr. G; Drew Fiske, Sr. F; Jahleel Moise, Sr. F; Jean Thomas, Sr. F; Will Baker, Sr. G; Sayvonn Houston, Sr. C; Jamal Reuben, Sr. F; Jarrod "Bubba" Shelby.
Springfield Central Players to Watch: Tyrell Springer, Sr. G; Lee Turner, Sr. G; Chris Prophet, Sr. G; Kamari Robinson, Jr. F; Jevaughn McMillian, Sr. C; Trevor Bacon, Sr. F; Cornelius Tyson, Sr. G.
Analysis: This might be the best matchup of the day. I picked Springfield Central to win it all before the tournament started; and since the Eagles are still in it, I'm sticking with the pick. The X-factor here might be the health of McMillian, a game-changing 6-foot-7 shot-swatter who injured his ankle in Tuesday night's thrilling semifinal win over St. John's (Shrewsbury). If he can't go or is less than 100 percent, that could make the matchup down low with Brockton's 6-foot-6 Sayvonn Houston -- by many accounts, one of the state's most efficient true five -- very interesting. Yet it seems the Golden Eagles thrive on adversity -- in the Western Mass. Final, with Springer and Prophet fouled out -- Robinson held his own to stave off a furious Commerce comeback bid. On the flip side, the Boxers have been on a mission since getting trounced by nearly 20 by Charlestown right before the start of tournament play. Blakely has been one of the best point guards of the tournament, and the Boxers have gotten crucial shooting out of Baker, Fiske and Reuben. Look out for Moise, an athletic shot swatter with quality defensive skills.
Hall's Pick: Springfield Central over Brockton

BOSTON -- A lesser team might have evaporated in the heat.

Brockton trailed Charlestown by seven points at the TD Garden with a tick more than four minutes left in Monday’s Division 1 state semifinals. Charlestown’s Tyrese Hoxter had already netted nine straight points in the fourth quarter, and the smooth lefty was threatening to shove Brockton tumbling into its grave.

The Boxers shoved back.

They rattled off the next seven points, eventually forcing overtime, and William Baker drilled two free throws with 3.6 seconds left in the extra session to ice Brockton’s 67-64 win and send the Boxers to Saturday’s state finals.

“Just stay calm,” explained Brockton star Sayvonn Houston, who scored a team-high 22 points to go with 13 rebounds. “If you panic, you lose.”

The Boxers didn’t panic. They made adjustments. Hoxter had been torching them with dribble penetration, so coach Bob Boen called for a 1-3-1 trap.

Outside shots weren’t falling, so Brockton attacked the glass. Houston had a putback hoop to cut the deficit to 55-50 with four minutes left. Jaylen Blakely (15 points) was fouled in transition after receiving a great outlet pass from Houston and hit one of two free throws.

Jamal Reuben, who started slowly, snatched a missed Blakely three and followed with his first field goal of the game. His second didn’t take so long to arrive. Reuben stole a cross-court pass on the very next possession and finished a lay-in on the break, tying the score at 55-all with two minutes left.

The teams played the rest of regulation to a draw, with Charlestown’s Tyrik Jackson swatting Baker’s baseline drive at the buzzer to keep the score 57-57.

Reuben started the overtime period with a bucket just five seconds in and followed with a strong baseline take a minute and a half later, giving his team a 61-57 advantage.

The talented small forward finished with 10 points after scoring just two during the first 28 minutes.

“Even when I’m struggling, coach and my teammates just want me to keep doing what I do, because they know it’s going to come eventually,” he explained.

Charlestown responded strongly, pulling within one at 63-62 with 16.9 seconds left. But Omar Orriols missed the second of two free throws and Houston sank two charity shots at the other end to push Brockton’s lead to 65-62. When Baker rebounded a Fernandez miss on the ensuring possession and was fouled with 3.6 seconds left, he needed just one make.

He got two, making the tally 67-62 before Iser Barnes (12 points) added a meaningful bucket as the clock ran out.

It didn’t take long for Houston to realize he was headed to Worcester’s DCU Center on Saturday to play for the state championship.

“Oh, that sunk in. That sunk in as soon as the buzzer went off,” he said.

But some of Houston’s teammates wanted to wait before moving on from Monday’s triumph. After changing in the locker room, Blakely and junior guard Tyler Kim took turns laying on the Celtics logo at midcourt, almost as if doing snow angels in the very circle where Kevin Garnett jumps center.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Kim said. “So why not?”

Designated Shooter: Drew Fiske missed his first two three-point attempts, but Brockton’s designated sharp-shooter isn’t one to become gun-shy. His mentality –- which goes something like, “If you’re hot, keep shooting, and if you’re not hot, shoot until you are” –- resulted in two crucial makes.

The backup guard sank back-to-back three-pointers to even the score at 44-all to end the third quarter, unleashing a primal scream after drilling a three in front of Brockton’s bench to beat the quarter buzzer.

The first three came from behind the NBA arc.

“It was deep. Coach usually yells at me for shooting so deep, but I can hit them,” said Fiske.

“That’s the new game in high school. Shoot that ball deeper, deeper, deeper. I tell them, ‘We can get it to you at the line, you don’t have to be way out there,’” Boen said. “But he’s a tremendous shooter. He does that in practice all the time –- bang, bang, bang. And it’s great, because it teaches us to cover three-point shooters like Charlestown has. We say in practice, ‘You can’t let him have that shot.’”

Hoxter’s Hot Hand: After Fiske knotted the score to end the third quarter, Hoxter pieced together a personal 9-2 flurry to give Charlestown a 53-46 lead with 5:35 left.

Elusive in the half-court offense and explosive in the open court, the point guard continuously paraded into the paint.

“He was doing a nice job clearing out. They have two three-point shooters who you can’t leave, so we were having trouble giving help on [Hoxter],” said Boen. “He was killing us. He was going here, there and everywhere. Those right-handed shots he made were fantastic, because he’s a lefty. Every one he made was all net. I kept thinking, ‘That’s not a good shot,’ and swish, swish, swish.”

Brockton switched to a 1-3-1 trap a couple possessions later and the Boxers’ comeback ensued. Hoxter managed just four points the rest of the way.

“It got to the point our offense wasn’t doing anything, and we really had to change the tempo of the game,” Boen explained. “It worked. I’ll assume [Charlestown coach Edson Cardoso’s] players are such good players that if they hadn’t been surprised by it, they would have torn it apart. Because you usually can’t do that when the other team has a couple great shooters like he has.”

Once the game tightened, Brockton switched from the trap because Boen feared Charlestown would adjust. But the coach still had a trick up his sleeve to slow Hoxter: guard Will Baker.

“He was dribbling the ball and hurting us,” Boen said of Hoxter, “and Baker’s probably our best on-dribble defender. And he did steal that one from him, which was a great steal.”

The steal Boen referred to came with the score knotted at 57-all and less than a minute remaining in regulation. Hoxter dribbled out front as Charlestown had a chance to seize the lead, but Baker hounded him, drew a steal, and even drew a foul on Hoxter during the scramble for the ball.

Baker missed both the resulting free throws, but redeemed himself by sinking the finishers in overtime.

BOSTON, Mass. — Brockton will make its much-anticipated return to the Garden floor as the top-seeded Boxers displaced No. 2 seed Madison Park (19-3) with a 57-48 victory last night in the Div. 1 South finals at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston.

The Boxers (22-2) held the Cardinals to 15 field goals at a 27.8 percent clip for the game, and clamped down hard in the final minute to set up a date with Charlestown, which knocked off Lexington in tonight's Div. 1 North final in Lowell, on Monday night.

“We’ve been waiting for a team like this to play defense against,” said Boxers head coach Bob Boen. “My big guys are getting tired of covering those 3-point players. They were very happy that they could stay in that lane and help out in what I call ‘normal’ defense with ‘normal’ help positions, instead of chasing guys out on the 3-point line.”

Sayvonn Houston had 13 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks while holding Cardinals’ big man Dakim Murray to eight points — seven of those coming in the first half.

“I just had to keep my hands up,” said the 6-foot-6 Houston. “They have a lot of size and rebounders, so I knew I had to get in position, box out and rebound.”

Will Baker, Jaylen Blakely and Jamal Reuben took care of the perimeter defense as they got in the passing lane on sever plays in the final two-plus minutes of regulation.

“We just wanted to get to every ball,” said Baker. “Coach told us to work hard and we just wanted to play aggressively. That’s what coach told us right before the game and that was the game plan.”

Stewart in Foul Trouble: David Stewart has meant so much to Madison Park on the defensive and offensive ends of the court this season, and in the biggest game of the season he could only sit and watch for the majority of the game with foul trouble.

He picked up two fouls in the first half and picked up two more in the third quarter a good 80 feet from his own basket to slow down any kind of flow he had with his game.

“Foul trouble and a couple of chippy fouls," said Cardinals head coach Dennis Wilson. "I wasn’t happy about that.”

Boen was planning on taking on both Murray and Stewart for the majority of the game, especially after seeing the success the two had against Franklin in the first half of the previous round.

“They needed both of their big guys,” said Boen. “Both big guys together were giving us a lot of trouble. When one or the other was out we relaxed a little, and we relaxed a little bit too much I think.”

When Stewart was able to stay in the game he made all the difference for Madison Park to keep things close. Stewart had 10 of the Cardinals 11 points in the third quarter and he finished with 16 in the second half after only having a single free throw in the first half.

Baker Steps Up: Baker might be the second point guard that comes into the game for the Boxers, but the ball was left in his hands in the second half as his team was trying to stave off the Cardinals.

“He got the game moving. We got off to a good start, we slowed down and then William came in and got us rolling again.”

Added Baker: “That’s what my role is. My role is to get opportunity for teammates when they are open.”

Baker -- who also added seven assists and four steals — picked off a pass on the opening possession of the second quarter and put it off the glass on the other end. Baker also set up Drew Fiske for a 3-pointer off a good dribble penetration and found Houston a couple times in the second half as he was able to create off the dribble.

BROCKTON, Mass. -- Brockton head coach Bob Boen saw the MIAA Division 1 South boys basketball tournament bracket and felt a touch of anger. After defeating Central Memorial at the buzzer earlier this season, Boen considered a playoff rematch inevitable.

But so soon?

“When we played each other at your place, I said we’d meet at UMass-Boston,” he told Catholic Memorial coach Denis Tobin Saturday when the two skippers opposed each other in the district quarterfinals, referring to the site of the finals and semifinals. “I don’t want to meet you here tonight.”

Although the matchup arrived earlier than he hoped, Boen’s troops were prepared and rose to meet the challenge Saturday evening at Brockton High School. Sayvonn Houston dominated inside with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jamal Reuben pitched in 20 points, and Brockton led throughout a 76-63 victory.

“To me, those were the best two teams in the bracket playing tonight. We lost a few games we shouldn’t have lost, so we got matched up with them,” Catholic Memorial star Matt Droney said after pouring in a game-high 23 points. “We would have had to beat them at some point anyway, though, and we didn’t. I’ll be very surprised if anyone does.”

Despite landing in a big hole early, Catholic Memorial managed to rattle Brockton’s nerves during the fourth quarter. Droney consistently scored throughout the full 32 minutes, and fellow senior Dan Powers (nine points) surged to life in the second half.

Using a 2-3 zone defense to limit Brockton’s transition opportunities, Catholic Memorial (17-5) clawed back from a 15-point deficit to pull within 53-49 with six minutes remaining.

“I was worried a little bit,” said Houston.

But Brockton (20-2) plugged the holes quickly and the leaking stopped. Over the next four and a half minutes, the Boxers ran off 14 unanswered points to build a 67-49 lead and effectively end the game.

“We heard all the ‘you got lucky’ talk, that we were supposed to lose. We wanted to prove a point that we’re the better team, and we did,” said Houston.

The two teams previously met in an instant classic during mid-February. Despite leading by a comfortable margin for most of the game, Catholic Memorial watched as Will Baker drilled a buzzer-beating three-pointer from well beyond the three-point arc to give Brockton an 88-87 win.

“Honestly, I heard that we were lucky from a lot of people," Reuben said. "But we knew we were the better team coming in. We knew we just had to play hard, play our game...They said CM was going to beat us. We’ve seen a lot of stuff that indicated that people thought CM was going to win. We just used that to our advantage, used it to work harder."

Brockton wasted no time capitalizing on that motivation Saturday evening. After the Boxers seized a 22-15 lead by the end of the first quarter, Tobin told his Catholic Memorial team in the huddle that the start was expected.

“We knew they would come out like gangbusters,” he told the Catholic Memorial players, knowing that the excitement of playing a home postseason game can act like a gallon of 5-Hour Energy.

But Tobin did not foresee the barrage of three-pointers – Brockton hit four in the first quarter and two more in the second – that eventually propelled Brockton in front, 43-28, just before halftime.

“They had guys hit shots who we didn’t think were good shooters. All their guys stepped up tonight, kudos to them,” Tobin said.

“That was probably the opposite of the game plan,” explained Boen. “The game plan was more to try to attack the basket and go to the big guy down low.”

Long-distance shooting would come in handy again later for Brockton. Chris Siggers went on a personal 5-0 run in the final 10 seconds before halftime to make the score 43-33 at intermission, and the Knights scored the first seven points of the third quarter, holding Brockton scoreless for four consecutive minutes to draw within 43-40.

The Boxers were on their heels due to Catholic Memorial’s zone defense, failing to attack the hoop like they had in the first half.

But just when Brockton’s offense looked it’s most stagnant, Reuben drilled back-to-back threes from the right wing.

“We were a little hesitant. We wanted to be aggressive, we knew we needed to be aggressive. Coming out on the court, coach drew up a play to get me open. And I just hit it,” said Reuben. “Coach doesn’t want us just standing around the three-point line, but we have a lot of shooters, and coach knows it.”

The triples made it 49-40, but CM wouldn’t allow itself to be buried easily. The Knights again dug in defensively, cutting the deficit to 53-49 before Brockton applied its finishing kick.

“We kind of got tired. Them jumping out early caught up to us in the fourth quarter. We wore ourselves out trying to catch them,” said Tobin.

An upsetting end: Houston held his younger sister in his arms at midcourt after the game, with a smile on his face, knowing that his high school career would extend at least one more game. Brockton moves on to meet Newton North in the semifinals Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at UMass-Boston.

But for Catholic Memorial’s seniors, Saturday’s defeat marked the end.

“It’s going to be tough. I’ve been with them for six years. They’ve been such a pleasure to coach and contributed so much to the program. It’s going to be tough saying goodbye,” said Tobin of his seniors, some of whom had been involved with the school’s basketball program since seventh grade.

The coach’s sentiment was reciprocated.

“He’s been everything for me. I almost went to prep school every year, but stayed – mainly because of him, but also because I wanted to win a state championship. I wouldn’t have done it any different though,” said Droney.

Along with Powers, Droney made a strong impression on Boen during their time at Catholic Memorial.

“Those two kids, they’re the best two shooters you’ll ever see, those two kids for Catholic Memorial,” the Brockton coach said.

Blakely The Aggressor: Jaylen Blakely doesn’t always play with the speed Boen prefers. But on Saturday, the ultra-quick point guard controlled the tempo and created easy looks for his teammates.

The junior finished with eight assists to match his eight points, committing very few mistakes while carving apart Catholic Memorial’s man-to-man defense.

“We’ve been telling him – Baker does what we want – get the ball and get it upcourt. Tonight Blakely did that much better. He got the ball and got it up court as fast as he can,” said Boen.

After Brockton’s lead dwindled to four points in the fourth quarter, Blakely took control. During a one-minute span, he assisted on a Reuben fast break layup, set up Houston in perfect position underneath the basket (Houston got fouled and made both free throws) and hit a runner in the lane, spurring Brockton’s game-sealing 14-0 run.

BROCKTON, Mass. -- Jamal Reuben curled around to the left wing, watched his three-point attempt sail through the net, then turned and saluted the near-capacity crowd behind him.

After trailing for all but a few moments early in tonight's pivotal showdown with Big 3 rival New Bedford, the newly-anointed No. 1 Brockton Boxers were in the midst of running off 15 straight points to end the game and avoid the upset. Reuben's three-ball gave them the lead for good with 2:11 left in the game, as the Boxers rolled to a 67-57 win that makes it 13 straight since losing to BC High in the first week of the season.

"It's our crowd, it's Senior Night, and they came to see us, so yeah I did it," the senior forward smiled when asked about the gesture to the crowd. "Man, I love when our crowd shows that support. It's a good feeling."

Momentum began to swing with 3:58 to go in the game, when New Bedford's Mark Finn was called for his fifth foul on Sayvonn Houston (16 points, 12 rebounds), who went up and under through traffic and picked up the hack on the way up. Houston converted the three-point play to knot it at 57.

Following Reuben's trey that made it 60-57, New Bedford (12-5) fumbled the ball away to give the Boxers (14-1) the ball back. Will Baker -- he of the buzzer-beating heroics in Friday's thriller over previous No. 1 Catholic Memorial -- made good on the turnover, hitting an 18-footer from the top of the key in which he pump-faked and pivoted 360 degrees before landing what turned into a high-risk shot.

The Whalers' next four field goal attempts were all three-pointers, all either hitting iron or nothing but air. Houston and Jahleel Moise were able to come up with the rebounds and feed it quickly to junior point guard Jaylen Blakely (17 points), who iced the win with a series of free throws.

That finished off a 15-0 run for the Boxers, who trailed for all but 2:25 of this contest. New Bedford didn't score a basket for the final five minutes of the contest.

It also closes what has to be one of the most impressive four-game swings performed by any team in the state thus far -- an overtime win over No. 6 Newton North on Super Bowl Sunday, a 20-point thrashing of Division 1 South darkhorse Mansfield last Tuesday, a buzzer-beater over previous top dog CM, and now a season sweep of a dangerous rival that has traditionally been a thorn in their side.

The difference?

"The big difference is chemistry," Houston said. "Hard work pays off. We work hard in practice, we all come hard ready to play each game, we want to make a statement. We want to win the whole thing this year. That's our goal."

Cameron Walker led the way in scoring for New Bedford with 12 points, while Steve Wynn added 10.

Houston, no problem: As one of the state's few truly elite centers, this isn't the first time the 6-foot-6 Houston has seen a double team. The Whalers routinely harassed Brockton's powerful big man with multiple defenders, yet he fought through it all night to the tune of 16 points, 12 rebounds.

The difference with players like Houston or, say, Acton-Boxborough center Kevin LaFrancis, is discipline. Whereas some big men across the state will lift the crowd with their leaping ability and overall high-energy play around the rim, they sometimes get caught flat-footed or out of position, leading to foul trouble.

Tonight, Houston maintained proper defensive positioning and didn't get caught behind the play too much, instead using the attention from Whaler defenders to create spacing for scorers like Blakely, Reuben, Baker and Moise.

"I felt like I was working inside and it was important to get other people involved," Houston said. "Obviously I had a big game at their house (last month), so I figured the pressure would be there. They took it to me, double-teamed me, so other people had to pick up the ball. That was important."

Reuben didn't hesitate to throw glowing praise on Houston, saying, "He brings it every night."

"Honestly, I think he's the best center in the state, from what I've seen," Reuben said. "He's big, he knows what he's doing, and when it's crunch time, he wants the ball."

Houston's best quality?

"He's strong, that boy is strong," Reuben said. "He's smart, he knows what he's doing. Sometimes we may question him, but at the end of the day he knows what he's doing."

Poor shooting to start: High energy and physicality are customary to Big 3 games, and this one was no different. On the offensive end, that led to a slew of missed shots. New Bedford shot just 32 percent for the first half to take a 28-23 lead at the break, while Brockton shot just 28 percent.

"We were way to wound up to begin the game tonight," Brockton head coach Bob Boen said. "We were completely out of control for most of the first half. We were trying to do things that we had no business trying to do -- dribbling the ball too much, everyone trying to win the game playing one-on-one. We were just too excited about tonight's game -- Senior Night, last home game, Big 3 title -- just too, too excited."

Target on their back: In a season where the top spots in ESPN Boston's statewide MIAA Top 25 poll have becoming a revolving door, Brockton is the latest top dog to dodge a bullet.

With the gauntlet of a schedule they've endured for the last week and half, there is no question about who is the top team in the land right now. The Boxers have a trip to Dartmouth tomorrow night, followed by a matchup with Cambridge in the first round of the Comcast Tournament this Saturday, before things could get dicey.

They'll likely face the winner of BC High and Charlestown in Sunday's final if all goes as planned, followed by a trip to Wachusett on Feb. 21.

Not easy being No. 1.

"Rankings are good and all, anyone would be happy to be No. 1, but at the end of the day it's all about bringing your A-game every game," Houston said. "I'm not worried about No. 1. I just want to keep winning, keep my teammates involved, and hopefully we can keep this going."

February is that time of the season when you find out what teams are truly made out of. In Sunday’s matchup between Brockton and Newton North, both teams showed why they could each be dangerous teams when March comes around.

Brockton won the contest, 71-65, in overtime. After digesting the game, here are some observations about both of these teams, who will both likely enter the Division 1 South Sectional as favorites.

Brockton’s Defense

Defense is arguably Brockton’s best asset. Jahleel Moise’s jumping ability and Sayvonn Houston’s size make it nearly impossible for players to drive in the lane. This was especially true at the start of their game against Newton North. Brockton’s defense forced Newton North to be a jump shooting team and since the Tigers’ shots were not falling, they took an early lead.



Defense pushes teams far in the playoffs. However, basketball is played on two ends of the floor. While Brockton’s defense is superb, there offense leaves a lot to be desired.

Brockton’s Offense



After watching this clip, one would think there is nothing wrong with Brockton’s offense. It is not so much that they are a bad team offensively. Obviously, they were good offensively in this game because they won. It is more about how they are scoring.

They do a wonderful job of scoring in the paint, getting put backs, and burning defenders off of isolation plays. The only issue: that is the only way they score. There are never any plays run for a basket or jump shots made for that matter.

Newton North is not a big team or an athletic team, so Brockton can get away with this type of scoring. When they play a more athletic or bigger team, this type of offense simply will not work in March.

X-Factor: Jaylen Blakely

In March, it is critical to have players who can create off of the dribble. Jaylen Blakely is that type of player.



Blakely does a great job of getting looks for his big man and making big shots. That being said, Blakely’s biggest weakness is his decision making.



Blakely turns the ball over at a high rate and takes bad shots often. If he can focus on playing under control, he has the capability of pushing Brockton far in the playoffs.

Newton North Offense

Newton North always has talented go-to options, which is why they are always a dangerous team in March. They might not have the Anthony Gurley or Greg Kelley on their roster this year, but the duo of Mike Thorpe and Luke Westman are not too shabby. They are two players who compliment each other well and play smart all of the time.



The Tigers rely on those two to do most of their scoring along with many of their sweet shooting role players. When their shots were not falling, Newton North struggled. The key for them will be for role players to knock down open shots when they get them.

X-Factor: Tommy Mobley

In the third quarter, one role player did exactly what Newton North needs in order for their offense to be effective. Freshman Tommy Mobley knocked down three outside shots. This was the point in the game where Newton North came back and made it a close game.



Mobley has an unusual yet highly effective shot. He might only be a freshman, but he does a good job of moving without the ball and knocking down tough shots. This type of role player is key, especially when fighting while down.

The only issue is that he is a freshman and makes the mistakes that all freshmen make. To rely on a young player is always a risky proposition for teams looking to make a deep run in March.

Conclusion

Brockton and Newton North are dangerous teams for very different reasons. The Boxers do a great job of beating teams with their size and athleticism. They are great on defense and make teams have to play their tough brand of basketball. The key for them will to force teams to turnover the ball and score in transition.

As for Newton North, they don’t have the size or talent of past years but they have a team of players that play well together. In this game, they finally showed their main flaw: defense. They are not a bad defensive team, but when they play bigger or more athletic teams, they run into serious problems.

Neither team is perfect, but both have assets that can push them far in March.

BROCKTON, Mass. –- Brockton jumped out to an early 6-0 to start the game and led throughout the match to top No. 15 Brighton 71-65 to win the championship game of the 38th Rotary Club of Brockton Holiday Tournament.

Both teams relied heavily on outside shooting, but neither teams’ sharp shooters were on target tonight. In the fourth quarter, Bockton got a boost from senior Sayvonn Houston, scoring 8 of his 14 points in the fourth. Houston shrunk 4 out of his 6 free throw attempts in the final quarter and shot 50 % (6-12) from the line on the night.

“We realized that their big man was out, so we thought about our big man,” said Brockton sophomore Jaylen Blakely.”Our big man kept calling for the ball and he deserved the ball, how he was fighting for it, so he kept getting the ball and he kept getting and ones. He kept scoring so we keep feeding him the ball.”

Ashed Tres: The three point shot is a neat invention. For a few extra feet distance with accuracy, you can earn an extra point for a bucket. But when the failing three is used constantly, as when teams do not have aggressive post scorers, so a natural option is mid to long range jump shots. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don’t. Blakely scored 6 out of the 14 points in the first quarter on three point shots.

“I started swinging the ball and realized that they were leaving me open, letting me see if I would shoot, so I just them off, sad Blakely. “It felt good so I just kept shooting, and they were falling.”

Blakely ended up with 17 points, 2 rebounds and two assists.

Opportunity, Four: During the fourth quarter, Blakely shot 4-4 from the free throw line and added a field goal to his tally. The sophomore was not deterred that his shot, and those of his teammates, were not falling regularly but that there was hope in the next stroke of the wrists. Despite the many attempts, only one Boxer made a three pointer in the fourth quarter and that was tournament MVP Jamal Reuben.

Houston grabbed 10 rebounds, including four in the fourth quarter, and blocked two shots. The senior bounded up and down the court in the fourth like a bull in the ring, driving the ball in the paint, waiting to be stopped or to be fouled. With Brighton’s big man Prince Unaegbu on the bench, fouling out with 3:57 left in the game, Houston took the opportunity to challenge some of Brighton’s non-traditional big men.

"They were coming back on three point shots and second chance opportunities from getting the box out,” Houston said. ”We were able to get them down low because they didn’t have any size on us, so I just took over down there.”

In the fourth, Brockton went to the free throw line for fourteen shots, the Bengals had no opportunities from the free throw line in that same period of time. With Houston creating an inside game, Blakely and Jarrod Shelby took the opportunity to be aggressive as well, taking the ball to the hoop, drawing contact and making 11 out the 14 opportunities lucrative.

NEWTON, Mass. –- Having the Brockton Boxers facing off against the Newton North Tigers on Superbowl Sunday was a bit ironic. Similar to the Super Bowl later that evening, there were two renowned programs from different leagues, going at it with bragging rights on the line. The tigers won the bragging rights in this Super Sunday tradition, a 62-48 victory over the Boxers on an unusually sunny Sunday afternoon.

Just like the Packers, the Tigers (11-4) started the game off with a bang by going on a 19-4 run in the first seven minutes of the game. Freshman Aaron Falzon -- who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, along with three 3-pointers -- was the key to this run as he scored 8 quick points on various post moves and outside shots.

“When he hits shots, his confidence skyrockets. We are really good when he starts hitting shots.” Newton North point guard Mike Thorpe said.

Thorpe was also a vital contributor, as he nearly had a double-double with 9 points and 10 assists. He had no issues with Brockton’s trapping zone defense, which changed from a half court press to a full court press often.

“We stayed disciplined and didn’t get flustered by their pressure,” Newton North junior wing Luke Westman said. “I think it is huge for our momentum. Beating a quicker and more athletic team is good for our confidence.”

“They were kind of throwing a 1-3-1 on us.” Newton North head coach Paul Connolly said. “It was all about the angles and the diagonal passes for us. The kids kept asking, ‘What are we running?’ and I kept telling them, ‘We aren’t running anything! We are playing basketball.’ That’s the funny thing about coaching. You are on the sidelines, but the guys are out there making the plays and we did that. We made enough plays to win.”

At halftime, it looked like the Tigers were a lock to win at 33-16, but Brockton (9-4) did not cave in. Captain Treace Macklin, Jamal Reuben, and 6-foot-6 forward Sayvonn Houston each picked up the intensity level, starting off the half with an 8-2 run. The Boxers had to deal with one of their senior leaders Alain Lenord missing the game with a sprained knee, which allowed for Jaylen Blakely (16 points) and Shane Sims (8 points) to get more looks. Their efforts, however, were not enough for a comeback.

“I think that [the snow days] are hurting everybody but Newton hadn’t practiced either and they played pretty well,” Brockton coach Bob Boen said. “We haven’t had practice in six or seven days. My players were excited and telling me they didn’t need practice after Friday’s win but after today’s game we’ll change that attitude.”

“We are what we are this year,” Connolly said. “After a tough loss Friday against Wellesley, we had a great practice yesterday and to come back today and get a win against a powerhouse team. It feels good to get that 'W' today.”

Don’t Sleep On These Guys

-- There were two juniors who were particularly impressive: Westman (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Houston (eight points, four rebounds). Both of their coaches seem to like what they bring to the table.

“[Luke] is terrific”, Connolly said Westman. “He is really cerebral out there and he’s a three-sport athlete. He’s all-league in volleyball, all-league in basketball, and all-league in soccer. He’s a terrific volleyball player. He made all-league as a freshman and all-scholastic in the Globe as a sophomore. He’s a kid who plays basketball for three months every year. He’s just a balanced athlete and a terrific kid. He’s a kid who could go to an Ivy League school and play either soccer or volleyball.”

“Sayvonn is big and strong,” Boen said of Houston. “He’s a bigger center than our starting center. He gets a lot of nice things done inside. He needs to finish a little more inside but that’s something that hurt us too today. We weren’t finishing lay ups particularly well. We only shot about 50 percent from lay ups I would say. Sayvonn gave us a lift though. He’s coming along.”

-- After losing to Wellesley on Friday, Connolly shed some light on the Division 2 South sleepers:

“We aren’t making excuses; they were just better than us the other night. They are senior-oriented. They are a good team. I could see them winning the Herget side of our division although there are a few more games left on that side. I think they’ll make a run in the tournament. They shoot the three well. They’ve had 12 threes in one game and 13 in another. They’ve had six or seven games where they’ve had double-digit three-pointers. They can really shoot the ball.”

BROCKTON, Mass. -- You couldn’t fault Brockton coach Bob Boen if his voice sounded a little hoarse after his team’s 88-74 win over Big Three rival New Bedford Tuesday night.

For the entire game, it seemed as if Boen was bellowing out to his players, pleading for them to slow down and play under control. Luckily for the hosts, his players listened, as their poise in the second half led them to an 88-74 win.

Up by six points at halftime, the Boxers (7-2 overall, 2-0 Big 3) fed the post on their first two possession of the third quarter and got five points out of it, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by junior Jamal Reuben (10 points, nine rebounds). New Bedford never seriously threatened after that, slicing the deficit down to five at one point in the third quarter but never getting closer than nine in the fourth.

“We talked about being a little calmer on offense,” Boen said. “That first half we really didn’t run much. We were lucky; we made some good shots and got some good breaks. Second half we did say we want to calm down, we want to run some plays, get the ball inside and get some shots off the board. That’s exactly what we said at halftime.”

As has been the case in recent years, the Boxers had a balanced scoring sheet with four players hitting double-digits. Senior guard Alain Lenord led the way with 22 points. His 12 fourth-quarter points put any New Bedford (7-2, 0-1) comeback hopes to bed, as he drained a pair of 3-pointers off assists from sophomore point guard Jaylen Blakely (nine points, five assists) and buried all six of his foul shots.

As a team, Brockton made 19-of-23 shots from the charity stripe, while New Bedford struggled at a 15-of-28 clip.

Treace Macklin and Sayvonn Houston (six rebounds, four blocks) each finished with 10 points for the Boxers.

Senior Jules Tavares led the Whalers with 26 points and junior Cameron Walker added 20, but Brockton never allowed the visitors to get comfortable in the half-court set and there were only a handful of uncontested buckets. Senior Lance Burlingame was a force on the glass with 20 rebounds but New Bedford had trouble finishing inside.

As it tends to be when these teams meet up, the game was played at a furious pace, as the teams combined for over 140 shots. But Brockton was simply more efficient, hitting 31-of-70 attempts from the field and 7-of-18 from beyond the arc compared to the Whalers’ 25-of-73 and 9-of-27.

“A lot of bad shot selection,” New Bedford coach Tom Tarpey said. “We haven’t done that all year, even against St. John’s Prep. We didn’t run our offense. It was too much standing around. Guys were just standing around, trying to do it themselves. I think when we faced a little adversity they thought they could take it themselves. We’re too good of a team for that. We’ve got to have everybody touch the ball, have a couple ball reversals. That’s when we’re at our best.”

While the Whalers clearly weren’t, the Boxers were close to it. If they can maintain that level of play through February and March, opposing coaches will be the ones losing their voices.

MANSFIELD, Mass. -- Brockton pulled it off, barely.

With 2.5 seconds left in the game, Brockton junior forward Jamal Reuben pulled down a rebound off of a Mansfield missed free throw and sunk one of his own to secure the No. 13 Boxers’ second half lead, just squeaking by No. 10 Mansfield, 53-51.

“Jamal’s a very strong player,” said Brockton coach Robert Boen. “So I was very glad to see it come his way. I knew that once he got it that they weren’t going to get it away from him.”

Brockton (4-2) was up by eight points, 48-40, with 5:50 left in the game when Mansfield (3-2) coach Mike Vaughan called a timeout. Mansfield managed to close to gap to 49-46 at 2:33 after Mike Hershman (18 points) hit two free throws. The momentum seemed to be going in the Hornets’ favor after Reuben (six points, 8 rebounds) traveled with 2:30 left, but a Mansfield missed opportunity to score gave Brockton’s Jaylen Blakely (18 points, 10 rebounds) the break to plop in a floater at 1:50 to put the Boxers back up by 5 at 51-46.

Hershman, never one to sit on his laurels for long, came down the other end of the court and drained a three to bring the Hornets within two at 51-49. Blakeley was only able to sink one free throw after being fouled at the one minute mark, giving the Boxers a three point lead and the ball.

Scoring ceased until 20.4 seconds remained and Mansfield senior captain Michael Lofton, Jr. (14 points, 10 rebounds) sunk two free throws to close the gap to one.

Blakely missed two free throws at 16.3 seconds left, and Mansfield got the ball back with the chance to take the lead with a score, but a pass went through the hands of a waiting player in the right hand corner, giving Brockton the ball back. Shane Sims was fouled with 7.7 seconds left, but missed both free throws. He admitted that he did not have a great game, and said it was partly due to Mansfield’s sixth man.

“The crowd got to me,” said Sims, who ended up with 14 points and 10 rebounds. “I felt like they were right in my ear when I was at the free throw line,” commenting on his 1 for 6 from the line performance.

“Shane was 9 out of 10 two games ago,” said Boen. “Everyone we missed was like, ‘When is the nightmare going to end?’”

Lofton was able to get the rebound off of the miss. Senior Leonard Richardson got the ball and was driving towards the basket but was stopped when a Brockton defender fouled him with 2.5 seconds left.

One for the tie, two to pull ahead.

Neither fell.

“No matter how many times you tell them in practice,” said Vaughan, “‘You could be the one at the line with the game on the line’, they’re kids, and they don’t take it serious until they’re at that line. I can tell you that tomorrow, during free throws, the drill will be a lot quieter and more focused.”