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Brighton High's Malik James and Reading High's Olivia Healy stopped by ESPNBoston.com's Foxborough office yesterday afternoon, where they were officially presented their trophies as the state's player of the year, the "Mr. Basketball" and "Miss Basketball" awards, respectively.

James, a 6-foot-1 point guard, was masterful in Brighton’s run to its first-ever MIAA Division 2 state championship in school history. He averaged 20 points per game over a six-game run through the tournament, which culminated with a 59-41 win over South Hadley in Saturday’s state final at Worcester’s DCU Center. Most dramatically, he led the Bengals to a comeback victory over Scituate in the Eastern Mass. final at TD Garden. Brighton trailed by 11 points with four minutes to go, but James sealed the victory with a three-point play with 1.8 seconds to go.

Healy, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward, led the state in scoring average (27.5 points per game), and shot 54.1 percent from the field -- including a 41 percent clip from three-point range. She also averaged 11.5 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 3.8 assists per game. She leaves Reading as the school's all-time leading scorer of either gender, at 1,897 points, breaking the previous mark set in 1985. In her four seasons with the Reading varsity, the Rockets went 86-7 with four Middlesex League titles, two MIAA Division 2 North titles, an Eastern Mass. Championship and the school's first-ever state title in 2012. The Rockets also endured a 48-game win streak, starting at the beginning of the 2011-12 season and snapping on March 11 in the Eastern Mass. Championship at TD Garden.

Both are expected to fulfill Division 1 aspirations following graduation. Healy signed a letter of intent with the University of Richmond last November, while James is expected to finish up next year at prep school. Yesterday, during the awards presentation, James received his first Division 1 scholarship offer, from Canisius College, for the 2014-15 season.

Canisius College extended a scholarship to 2014 point guard prospect Malik James on Tuesday afternoon, while he was at ESPNBoston.com's Foxborough office this afternoon to receive the organization's "Mr. Basketball" award.

James took the MIAA by storm the past two years, leading Brighton to the state finals as a sophomore and bringing home the school’s first ever state championship as a junior. He separated himself as the MIAA’s best player during the state tournament, where he averaged 20 points per game.

In receiving his first Division 1 offer, James feels relief.

“Finally my mother won’t have to pay for college out of her own pocket," he said. "I’m just happy knowing that it’s my first offer, and also that there are many more to come. All that hard work in the gym has paid off. It’s really a blessing too, I’m very proud."

He will be playing against some of the best AAU competition in the country this summer with BABC, as part of the Nike EYBL circuit. Playing with BABC for Coach Leo Papile has already been a rewarding experience for James.

“Leo’s a very good coach, he really knows his X’s and O’s," James said. "If you listen to him and stay in his system, you’ll be good. So far the competition is obviously way better than the Boston City League or anything like that. I’m going up against other top point guards in my class."

With significant interest from several other Division 1 programs, James is currently in the process of deciding where he will play prep school basketball this coming fall.

THE SUPER TEAM

G – Malik James, Jr., Brighton
The 6-foot-1 point guard was named ESPN Boston’s “Mr. Basketball” last week after an explosive playoff campaign that saw him average 20 points in six games and deliver the Bengals the MIAA Division 2 state championship, their first state title in school history. James is expected to finish up his high school playing career at a prep school next season.

G – Darien Fernandez, Sr., Wareham
One of the state’s flashiest lead guards, the 5-foot-7 Fernandez once again took the South Coast Conference by storm with his no-look passes and rainbow jumpers. He averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals as the Vikings went unbeaten through the SCC for the second straight year, and returned to the D3 South title game for the third time in four seasons.

F – KayJuan Bynum, Sr., Springfield Putnam
The 6-foot-3 Bynum was a physical presence on the boards, leading the Beavers in rebounds in the MIAA Division 1 state title game as they downed Mansfield in an overtime thriller. For the season, Bynum led the Beavers in scoring (15.7 points), ranked second in steals (2.5) and rebounds (9.6), and shot 39 percent from three-point range (40-for-103). Bynum is headed to Southern Connecticut State in the fall, where he will play linebacker on the football team.

F – Chris Bardwell, Sr., North Andover
In one of the most remarkable transformations in years, the 6-foot-5 Bardwell went from a benchwarmer on Central Catholic as a junior last year, to MVP of the state’s most competitive league, the Merrimack Valley Conference, as a senior at North Andover. For the season, Bardwell averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks as the Knights reached their first Division 2 North title game in six seasons.

C – Tyler Gibson, Sr., Rockland
The 6-foot-6 senior lived up to the hype garnered after an explosive summer, leading the Bulldogs to a South Shore League title and D3 South semifinal appearance. He averaged 21.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.8 blocks and 2.1 assists per game while seeing many a double-team. That includes at least eight games with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Gibson is signed with UMass-Lowell for next season.

BEST OF THE REST

Riyadh Asad, Sr. G, West Springfield
One of the most talented lead guards outside of the Eastern Mass. region, Asad led a deep and talented West Side backcourt to one of the top seeds in Division 1 West, where they lost to eventual state champion Putnam in the semifinals. For the season, he averaged 19.4 points per game.

Jaleel Bell, Sr. G, Wayland
One of the most decorated players in school history, the 6-foot Bell leaves Wayland as a two-time Dual County League Small MVP, and three-time DCL Small champion. The four-year starter led the state in scoring average this season (27.4 points per game), and leaves Wayland with 1,244 career points.

Zack Berman, Sr. G, Wachusett
The Mountaineers won respect around the state with a challenging non-conference slate, taking down squads such as Cambridge and Brockton, and leading the way was the 6-foot Berman. The two-time Mid-Wach A MVP and three-year captain averaged 14 points, six assists and four rebounds as the Mountaineers reached the semifinals of the Division 1 Central tournament.
Joel Berroa, Sr. F, Central Catholic
One of the state’s premier rebounders, the 6-foot-5 Berroa picked up the slack as injuries piled up for the Raiders, helping them to a second Division 1 North title in four seasons. He averaged 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this season. Berroa is currently considering Northeast-10 interest as well as post-graduate options.

A.J. Brodeur, Soph. C, Algonquin
The 6-foot-8 Brodeur is one of the most promising young stars in Massachusetts, and played a big part in the Tomahawks capturing the No. 1 overall seed in Division 1 Central this season. He averaged 17.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 8.5 blocks and 4.5 assists; that also includes four triple-doubles of points, rebounds and blocks. Brodeur is headed to NEPSAC powerhouse Northfield Mount Hermon next season.

Stevie Collins, Soph. G, Lynn English
The Bulldogs were one of the state’s most fascinating teams to watch in the second half, and the 5-foot-9 Collins was the catalyst in their run. English’s run to its first D1 North Final since 2009 included a monster 38-point performance from Collins in the semifinals against Everett. For the season, Collins averaged 14.5 points and six assists per game.

Brendan Hill, Soph. F, Mansfield
Playing in the competitive Hockomock League, the 6-foot-5 Hill came away as the league’s MVP as just a sophomore, as the Hornets made their first Division 1 state final appearance in school history. He averaged 13.4 points and was the league’s leading rebounder. Hill is also a standout wide receiver on the Hornets’ football team.

Freddy Hogan, Jr. G, Lynn English
The Bulldogs’ most consistent player from the get-go, he averaged 20 points per game over the first 12 games of the season before English hit full throttle en route to the D1 North finals. For the season Hogan led the team in scoring (16.9 points), and also averaged six assists.

Jameilen Jones, Sr. G, BC High
Another returning All-Stater, the 6-foot-3 Jones navigated the Eagles through a tough Catholic Conference en route to one of the top seeds in Division 1 South. For the season, Jones averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Eagles took a surprise first round exit in the playoffs. Jones will be pursuing post-graduate options for next season.

Eric Martin, Sr. G, Danvers
One of several point guards making the list primarily for their distribution, the 6-foot Martin was the Northeastern Conference’s MVP this season after averaging 8.8 points, 7.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game. The two-time NEC All-Star led the Falcons to their second straight MIAA Division 3 state championship this season, and also has over 100 career goals for the Falcons’ soccer team, good enough for best all-time in the school.

Tommy Mobley, Soph. G, Newton North
One of the state’s premier shooters made headlines throughout the season for his marksmanship, hitting 94 three-pointers and twice hitting nine in a game. He was named MVP of the Bay State Conference’s Carey division after averaging 18.4 points and five rebounds per game. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team of the Comcast IAABO Board 27 Classic.

Brian Mukasa, Jr. G, Sharon
The 6-foot Mukasa navigated the Eagles through a wide-open Division 2 South, losing to district champ Scituate in the semifinals. For the season, he was the Hockomock League’s leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, to go along with 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals.

David Murrell, Jr. F, Springfield Putnam
An athletic slasher, the 6-foot-3 Murrell was another defensive stalwart for a Beavers squad that earned their first MIAA Division 1 state championship in school history. For the season, he averaged 14.9 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, and also shot 53 percent from the field.

Isaiah Nelsen, Sr. F, North Andover
The 6-foot-6 post leaves North Andover as a two-time All-Star, and one of the program’s all-time leading scorers and rebounders. For his senior season he averaged 18.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and two blocks as the Knights made their first D2 North Final appearance since 2007. Nelsen is signed with St. Anselm College for next season.

Tyler Nelson, Jr. G, Central Catholic
Another one of the state’s premier shooters, and one of several returning All-Staters, Nelson shot 41 percent from three-point range as the Raiders captured their second Division 1 North title in four seasons. For the season, he averaged 17.2 points and 4.7 assists, and shot 89 percent from the free throw line.

Frantdzy Pierrot, Jr. G, Melrose
The Red Raiders were the state’s final remaining unbeaten before they fell to state champ Brighton in the D2 North semifinals, and the 6-foot-3 Pierrot was the catalyst. He was named MVP of the Middlesex League after averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists; that number includes averages of 18 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in the playoffs, with an injured ankle. Pierrot is also a highly-regarded soccer player for Melrose during the fall.

Kamari Robinson, Sr. F, Springfield Central
Another returning All-Stater, the 6-foot-5 Robinson slid over to the wing position after leading the Golden Eagles to a Division 1 state championship in 2012 as a power forward. The move produced dramatic results, as he averaged 20.8 points per game and was named the Western Mass. Player of the Year.

Elijah Rogers, Jr. G, Brookline
The 6-foot Rogers controlled everything for the Warriors in surprise blowouts of New Bedford and Marshfield, en route to the program’s first Division 1 South semifinal appearance since 2004. For the season he averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds. Rogers has been receiving varied amounts of interest across Divisions 1 and 2.

Nick Simpson, Jr., Brighton
In his first run through the Division 2 playoffs, the 6-foot-5 Simpson was instrumental, helping the Bengals earn some dramatic wins throughout the tournament. For the season, he averaged 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists as the Bengals won their first Division 2 state title in school history.

Justin White, Jr. F, Holyoke
Also a star quarterback for the football team, the 6-foot-3 White brought that toughness underneath to impressive results, as the Purple Knights reached the Division 1 West semifinals. For the season, White averaged 16.3 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Joel Berroa, Central Catholic
As injuries to key frontcourt players continued to pile up, Berroa saddled up and took on the brunt of the duties down low, marking the best forwards and keeping them in check. He was one of the Merrimack Valley Conference’s leading rebounders (9.4 per game) as the Raiders reached their second Division 1 Eastern Mass. Final in four seasons.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike McVeigh, North Andover
Long a Cape Ann League stalwart, the Knights began their first season in the state’s best league, the Merrimack Valley Conference, and made their presence felt immediately by capturing a share of the MVC Large title. The Knights also reached their first Division 2 North final since 2007 in the process, putting a nice bow on what has been a storybook career for the long-time coach. After 31 years on the sideline, one of the truest class acts in the game is calling it a career, with an overall record of 497-176 and a playoff appearance in every season.

All-Defensive Team
Lucas Hammel, Sr. G, Central Catholic
Joel Berroa, Sr. F, Central Catholic
Prince Unaegbu, Sr. F, Brighton
Tyler Gibson, Sr. F/C, Rockland
Obi Obiora, Jr. C, Brookline

All-Shooters Team
Tommy Mobley, Soph. G, Newton North
Tyler Nelson, Sr. G, Central Catholic
Tim Dufficy, Sr. G, Whitinsville Christian
Tyler Desrosiers, Sr. G, Agawam
Daivon Edwards, Sr. G, Brighton

Justin White photo is courtesy of MassLive.com and the Springfield Republican

Brian Mukasa photo is courtesy of HockomockSports.com

ESPNBoston.com and its high schools section today announce that Malik James, junior point guard of the Brighton High Bengals, is the recipient of its “Mr. Basketball” Award, presented annually to the top high school basketball player in Massachusetts.

The Mr. Basketball award winner was chosen by a panel made up of ESPNBoston.com staff and correspondents. James will be presented with the Mr. Basketball award at a date later this school year. He joins King Philip’s Jake Layman (2012) and St. John’s Prep’s Pat Connaughton (2011) as recipients in ESPNBoston.com’s three-year history.

“We are honored to present Mr. James with our third annual Mr. Basketball award,” said ESPN Boston high schools editor Brendan Hall, who coordinates the site’s basketball coverage. “It was a wide-open field this year, but nobody elevated his game more in the playoffs than Malik. Plain and simple, Brighton doesn’t win its first state championship this season without Malik’s heroics.”

The 6-foot-1 James was masterful in Brighton’s run to its first-ever MIAA Division 2 state championship in school history. He averaged 20 points per game over a six-game run through the tournament, which culminated with a 59-41 win over South Hadley in Saturday’s state final at Worcester’s DCU Center. Most dramatically, he led the Bengals to a comeback victory over Scituate in the Eastern Mass. final at TD Garden. Brighton trailed by 11 points with four minutes to go, but James sealed the victory with a three-point play with 1.8 seconds to go.

With the win over South Hadley, Brighton became the first Boston City League team to win both a Boston City championship and state championship in a decade, following a 2003 Charlestown squad that current Brighton head coach Hugh Coleman served as an assistant on.

“It’s been remarkable to watch the way Malik has evolved the last two seasons,” Hall said. “He is someone that demonstrated special gifts early in his career, but it took the second half of this season for all of us to realize what a leader he has become for his team. He made all the right decisions on the court these playoffs and was a fun player to watch.”

In 27 games this season for the 21-6 Bengals, James averaged 22 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Over the last two seasons, the Bengals have gone 42-10 with two North titles, two state final appearances and the school's first Boston City and state championships.

James is expected to finish his high school career next season at a prep school. In a three-year career at Brighton spanning 73 games, he notched 1,006 points and 608 assists.

WORCESTER, Mass. -– After a season that at many points could have been compared to a roller coaster ride, Brighton left nothing for question in their most important game of the year.

Behind 16 points from point guard Malik James, Brighton (21-6) captured the Division 2 state championship, knocking off Western Mass. champion South Hadley (17-8), 59-41.

James saved some of his best performances for the biggest stages -- take, for instance, his storming comeback in the state semifinal game against Scituate, Tuesday night at TD Garden. Today, he was unstoppable in the second and third quarters thanks to his ability to get to the rim and hit mid-range jumpers.

Brighton got out to a quick lead in the first half, something that hasn’t often been said this year about the Bengals. Known for their slow starts and ability to turn it on in the fourth quarter, Brighton jumped out to a 19-10 first quarter lead, and never looked back. South Hadley made their runs in the second half, but the Bengals were always there to slam the door shut.

A year after the heavily-favored Bengals came up short in the state title game, and months after many question Brighton’s toughness and hunger to want to get back to the state finals, they did just that -- sending James, who scored his 1000th point in today’s game, off in style to finish his career at prep school.

“It feels awesome to leave on a good note...and to just leave with a state championship and a ring,” James said. "It was more about being more mature...[last year] we were young-minded, we really didn’t know what to do on the court. We just listened to our coach, and everything was good.”

James’ progression: Bengals coach Hugh Coleman said James’ leadership is a big reason why the Bengals were able to make a run to the state title game. Teammate Jason Jones said after the Boston City League championship game, a game Brighton won, that James’ business-trip type attitude was infectious to the rest of the team -— giving them motivation and helping them focus on beating New Mission for the Boston City League title.

It was a comment that had Coleman glowing, and a factor that made the coach reflect on James’ progression as a leader.

“A lot of times I’ve been wondering how much he’s listened to me, how much he’s growing off the court," Coleman said. "What I’ve realized from this season and these playoffs is that he takes it in, but it shows a lot more on the court. That’s meant everything for us.

"His maturity has come so much more on the court. I’m proud of him for that—he’s a special, special young man.”

Coleman still expresses his appreciation for getting the Brighton job four years ago. James enrolled at Brighton by chance, the same year that Coleman began his duties as the head-man of the Bengals.

“I lucked up and got the job at Brighton four years ago, I probably wasn’t supposed to get it, but I did," he said. "A lot of people recruited him out of middle school to go to different schools, but he ended up at Brighton with me.

"I’m glad I’ve been able to be a part of his life, and him a part of my life -- he’s made me a stronger person, and I hope I was able to rub off on him.”

Learning from O’Brien: Coleman announced after the game that he would be dedicating the victory to his good friend and mentor Jack O’Brien, the famed former Charlestown coach who won five Division 2 state championships over a period of six seasons from 2000 to 2005. Coleman’s squad this year was the first team since O’Brien’s 2003 Townies team to win both the Boston City League title and the state title. Coleman was an assistant on O’Brien’s staff for that unprecedented run, while his younger brother Derek was a captain on that 2003 squad.

“He should be coaching," Coleman. "In my opinion he’s the best coach in the state of Massachusetts. Not just because he won games, he changed the lives of so many of us young men at Charlestown."

Coleman and his coaching staff constantly express their pride in having the opportunity to shape young men. Forward Nick Simpson (11 points), who failed off the team last year, is now the Bengals’ best student -— making the honor roll in each of the first two quarters of this year. James, a player with tons of talent whose motor has sometimes been questioned, played better in the state tournament than almost any other player in the state.

“My coaching staff...the Bengal five: those guys, we strategize after every game, we talk about not just basketball, we talk about what’s going on with these guys in their lives off the court," Coleman said. "It was really special to accomplish those things, but it never would have happened without the hard work of those guys."

O’Brien was long known for being a father-figure in the lives of his players—whether it was making sure they were fed, getting on them about their grades, teaching them about integrity, or introducing his players to goal-setting, his example is one that Coleman energetically replicates at Brighton.

“What I learned from Jack O’Brien at Charlestown was winning was a compliment to the young men [becoming] better people," Coleman said. "That’s my passion, helping these young men become better people—and through that process, we were able to be successful today. I’m very, very proud.”

MassLive.com online sports producer Jay King and I break down each of the three MIAA boys basketball State Championships taking place Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester. I'll be providing Eastern Mass. perspective, while Jay handles Western Mass.


***

DIVISION 2: BRIGHTON VS. SOUTH HADLEY

School: Brighton
Record: 20-6
Region: North

Boy, do the Bengals have a flair for the dramatic. In Tuesday night’s Eastern Mass. Final with Scituate, at TD Garden, Brighton trailed by 11 with four minutes to go, then took the lead with 1.8 seconds left after Malik James scooped up a Nate Hogan deflection and converted a three-point play. James’ fourth-quarter effort – 14 of his 21 points, all with four fouls – is something they’ll be talking about for years. And yet, it was just the latest episode of one of the most dramatic playoff runs in years, scoring last-second victories in wins over Burlington, Melrose and North Andover en route to that Scituate win.

The Bengals were a heavy favorite over Mahar in last year’s state final, but fell behind 17-3 in the first quarter before losing by four. Yet here they are again, supercharged behind James and getting added boost from wing Nick Simpson, who was ruled academically ineligible shortly before last year’s playoff run.

Should Brighton win on Saturday, the Bengals would be the first team from Boston Public Schools to win both a Boston City Championship and MIAA State Championship in the same season since 2003. That, of course, was one of Jack O’Brien’s five state title squads at Charlestown. The legendary O’Brien is a lifelong mentor to Brighton head coach Hugh Coleman, who was also an assistant on those nationally-ranked Townies squads.

-- Brendan Hall

Key Players:
Malik James, 6-2 Jr. G (21 points, eight assists) – When in his element, simply the best point guard in the MIAA. His 14-point fourth quarter with four fouls at the Garden, punctuated with his steal and game-winning layup, was something of beauty.
Nick Simpson, 6-4 Jr. G (16 points, seven rebounds) – Ruled ineligible shortly before the 2011-12 postseason, some wonder if he could have been the difference in the Mahar game last year.
Prince Unaegbu, 6-6 Jr. C (12 rebounds, seven blocks) – Also a menace as a two-way edge player in football, Unaegbu is the muscle down below. Also the cousin of future UMass defensive end Peter Ngobidi.
Daivon Edwards, 6-0 Sr. G (13 points) – One of the state’s best long-distance shooters, has hit 92 three-pointers so far this season. Give him an inch, it will feel like a mile.

Road through the playoffs
North First Round: beat Burlington, 62-60
North Quarterfinal: beat Salem, 82-61
North Semifinal: beat Melrose, 65-62
North Final: beat North Andover, 64-59
Eastern Mass. Final: beat Scituate, 55-52

***

School: South Hadley
Record: 17-7
Region: West

When South Hadley dropped to 7-5 with a 26-point loss to Sabis at the Hoophall Classic in mid-January, coach Jeff Guiel kept the team in the locker room for about a half an hour. He told his players they needed to be mentally tougher. He implored them to use their assistant coaches, former South Hadley players, as examples. He didn’t really know what else to do. He felt his team could play much better, but he saw an underachieving bunch sitting in front of him.

South Hadley lost its next two games after that speech (maybe drawing similar ones), but hasn’t lost since. The Tigers won their last six regular season contests, captured a Western Mass. title with three more victories, and then beat St. Bernard’s by 15 points in the Division II state semifinals.

Underachieving no more. Not even close.

-- Jay King

Key players:
Evan Marcus, 5-11 Sr. G (16 points) – Depending when you pay attention during a game, Marcus will either be: shooting a 3-pointer, posting up, doggedly chasing an opponent, quarterbacking the South Hadley offense or slashing to the paint for two. So yes, he provides quite a bit. And yes, at least during the latter stages of the Western Mass. tournament, South Hadley’s Mr. Everything wore his hair in a mullet.
T.J. Fitzell, 5-10 Jr. G (11.3 points) – Fitzell’s like that bad movie about an underground fight club starring Sean Faris –- he’ll Never Back Down. Capable of extended hot streaks, he hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter against St. Bernard’s and leads South Hadley with 46 triples on the season.
Avon White, 5-10 Jr. G (10.7 points) – South Hadley’s quickest player and best ball-handler, White is adept at breaking down defenses with the dribble.
Anthony Bullough, 6-2 Sr. F (8.2 points) – Though he scored 14 points in the Western Mass. final, Bullough isn’t one to post impressive numbers. What he does provide for South Hadley, though: toughness and a bit of length for a team mostly devoid of the latter.

Road through the playoffs
West Round 1: beat Belchertown, 73-51
West Semifinals: beat Sabis, 52-40
West Final: beat Greenfield, 55-49
State Semifinals: beat St. Bernard’s, 63-48

BOSTON -- No way, no how was Malik James going to let his team go down without a fight. Even if that meant taking the risk of performing in crunch time with four fouls.

The Brighton guard had picked up that foul with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter and went to the bench. Meanwhile, Scituate was in the process of trying to blow the game open, continuing a big run at the start of the fourth quarter that saw them take what seemed like a commanding, 47-36 lead.

After spending most of his time on the bench demanding to be put back in, James came back on the floor and promptly made his mark with a bucket on a putback with 4:37 remaining. The junior took control of the game from that point on, scoring 14 of his 21 points over those final minutes as the Bengals roared back to life with a 14-3 run, capped by a Daivon Edwards 3-pointer and a James free throw which tied the game at 50-50 with 1:13 left to play.

The Sailors next, and last, points came on a pair of David Cox foul shots, but James wasn't done yet. He calmly sank two free throws with 8.4 seconds on the clock, then knocked the ball loose as Scituate tried to come upcourt. The ball landed in the hands of Bengals teammate Nate Hogan, who quickly sent it right back to James, who raced in for what would end up as the game-winning layup.

James was also fouled on the play, but he sank the freebie and Scituate's desperation heave fell way short, allowing Brighton to escape with a 55-52 victory in the Div. 2 state semifinals at TD Garden.

"I wasn’t supposed to be in the game but I told my coach to put me in because if we were going to lose, we were going to lose with me on the court,” James said, describing the final play. “At first there was confusion because coach was saying zone, but it was eight seconds so I was like, ‘What are we in?’ He finally said man and I had four (fouls) so he said don’t reach."

“I played defense on the baseline and I tried to turn the guard and actually he did turn," James went on. "He spun around and, not listening obviously, I reached and I got the steal this time, a deflection to my teammate who passed it for the outlet, and I finished.”

What got the Bengals (20-6) back in the game was a combination of a shift away from their beloved three-point shot and a collection of players doing the little things. Guards Edwards and Mark Mojica each contributed key steals in the run, while Nick Simpson (16 points) and Prince Unaegbu controlled the glass. Once James returned to the floor, Brighton began attacking the basket rather than settling for outside shots.

"I appreciate every little thing that the guys do," praised Brighton coach Hugh Coleman. "And it is about the little things. It's not if (James) scores 20 or someone hits five threes. It's the charges, the loose balls, the steals. Those are the little things that make the difference and you know what? It proved right today."

It was Simpson who did the bulk of the work in the first half, scoring ten of his points. Edwards (11 points) contributed a pair of 3-pointers and Mojica scored his four points in the second as the Bengals took a 27-21 lead.

Scituate (21-4) turned things around the third, holding Brighton to just six points while putting in 18 of its own with Noma Okundaye getting nine of 17 points in the frame to lead the charge. The Sailors caught and passed Brighton, taking a 39-33 lead into the fourth, which they extended to an 11-point lead before James sparked the comeback.

"We just did not take care of the ball at the end of that game. No one lost that game. We've won together, we've lost together. We lost our first game of the season by 25. All we did was work hard. All I've ever asked these people to do is sacrifice and give everything they have all the time. I've never had better practices, I've never had better people, I've never had a better experience."

A year ago, Brighton fell just short of its dream of bringing a state trophy back to the city for the first time in school history. This time, they hope to finish the job.

"The goal is absolutely to win it," Coleman stated emphatically. "From the jump, from practice starting tomorrow, everything we do - game film, game prep. Us coaches really like to give things to God. We feel like, if we do what we're asked to do in His eyes, He is going to give us what we deserve and what we're blessed with."

LOWELL, Mass. -– Brighton is used to making second-half comebacks. On Saturday they added North Andover to the long list of teams who couldn’t close the them out, winning the Division 2 North championship game 64-59.

Nick Simpson (23 points, 15 rebounds) carried the Bengals’ offense for the vast majority of the game, especially in the first half when co-star Malik James was struggling to hit shots. James, who led the Bengals to the state championship game last year as a sophomore—shot just 1-for-10 from the field in the first half.

The Scarlet Knights were anchored in the first half by senior forward Chris Bardwell (16 points, 12 rebounds) and guard Derek Collins (16 points, 5 rebounds). In the first half alone, Bardwell had a double-double and had a huge presence in holding Brighton off the glass. Despite his efforts though, the Bengals were able to keep the game within striking distance at halftime, 34-27, thanks to a dominant team offensive rebounding performance.

“I’m really trying to get the guys to have a sense of urgency and realize that we can’t wait like sometimes you wait to get a feel, you want to feel a team out," Brighton coach Hugh Coleman said. "I’ve been stressing, since the playoffs started: get up, get after it, even from the opening tip, attack.”

James’ slump didn’t last long though, he kept driving into the paint in the third quarter—and that finally started to pay off, as he scored 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter. Thanks in part to James and Simpson attacking the rim, Bardwell spent a decent amount of time on the bench late in the third and in the fourth quarter.

“Malik was very frustrated because he felt like his jumper wasn’t going down, he tried to take a couple lay-ups that missed and I let him know to stay with it. Sometimes that’s the way the ball bounces, unfortunately,” Coleman said. “I wanted him to keep staying going to the basket, even though he didn’t get a few of the foul calls. And eventually it kind of gets going, so that’s what happens for him. And that’s big, because once that happens for him, then it opens stuff for Nick and Daivon.”

Edwards bounces back: Daivon Edwards almost didn’t make it to the Tsongas Center for the game because he had to take the SAT’s, but Coleman reiterated after the game that contact had been made with College Board, the administrator of the test, as well as the schools Edwards is applying to, to ensure that he could send in his SAT scores at a later date.

In return, Edwards had one of his best games of the season for the Bengals, nailing four three-pointers and forcing North Andover’s defense to constantly get a hand in his face and keep an eye on him. It was the type of game that Edwards needed, Coleman said, to re-gather his confidence going into the Eastern Mass. championship game.

“I have a lot of confidence in him," Coleman said. "Late in the season, he struggled. He wasn’t hitting anything, he wasn’t rebounding, he wasn’t playing defense -— so we had to take him out of a lot of games and not play him.

“But you know, I talked to him and I said ‘I know what you’re capable of, you’ve proven you can do it—stick with it’. Now the last few games, that stroke has been going—and it’s mean a lot for his confidence and that meant a lot for our team.”

Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best: Coleman is no stranger to North Andover’s talented lineup, they scrimmaged the Knights before the season and Coleman watched North Andover blow out a very talented Wakefield team earlier in the week. After seeing the Knights’ play in the semifinal match, Coleman was worried -- to say the least. He said the player that the Bengals prepared most for was Derek Collins, who drained 7 three-pointers in the win.

“[Collins] literally sparked his team, motivated his team. I’ll be honest, I kept saying ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna’ do with North Andover . They’re tough, I know they’re a well-coached team, they’re organized,” Coleman said, praising the Knights’ discipline and attention to detail, “They’re disciplined. And when I watched them at Wakefield, I could see it in their eyes that they were listening to their coach’s every word. That’s a dangerous team to play.”

Brighton rotated 10 players into the game on a consistent basis, and Coleman said that was done in particular to wear down Collins, who can get hot from three-point range on the drop of a dime. Collins, as mentioned, finished with 16 points, but had to work hard for his points and was harassed all afternoon by the Bengals’ on-ball defenders.

McVeigh announces retirement: A teary-eyed Mike McVeigh announced after the game that he would be retiring as head coach at North Andover after 31 years running the program. McVeigh said it was a decision that he made in his own mind two months ago, and one that, in a way, helped him enjoy the season and the team that will be the last he ever coaches.

“The feeling I’ve had for North Andover, for the players I’ve had for 31 years, all the assistant coaches, the booster program that we have in town, the school administration, the pep band -- you see it, and I think it’s pretty darn good here," McVeigh said. "The number of former players is so precious to me, a big part of my life.”

Captain Isaiah Nelsen (14 points) praised his coach after the game, hinting that while coming together and gelling as a team wasn’t easy, the Knights were motivated by their coach:

“If you told me in November that this team would be Co-MVC champs and make it to the finals at the Tsongas, I’d tell you that you
were crazy," he said. "Everyone made sacrifices, we sacrificed shots, and we did it for the better of the team.”

ESPN Boston High Schools editor Brendan Hall and Cristo Rey head coach Malcolm Smith break down last night's Boston City Championship action, won by Brighton for the first time in the program's history. Hall and Smith also give quick thoughts on the forthcoming MIAA State Tournament, on the eve of Friday's seedings.

(Video by Derek Malloy)

BOSTON -- Brighton junior point guard Malik James took Tournament MVP honors last night at Boston City Championships, as the Bengals downed archrival New Mission for their first City title in school history.

James spoke with ESPN Boston High Schools editor Brendan Hall following the awards ceremony, to talk about winning the City title and gearing up to defend their MIAA Division 2 Eastern Mass. title:

(Video by Derek Malloy)

WELLESLEY, Mass. -– It happened in a flash. One minute all the discussion was about the efficient execution of the Danvers half-court offense; the next minute all anyone could talk about was the explosiveness of Brighton in the full-court.

The Bengals (14-5) scored 30 points in the third quarter against Danvers (18-1) in the first round of the IAABO Comcast Board 27 Comcast tournament at Babson College. Brighton turned a halftime deficit into a 74-66 win over the previously unbeaten Falcons.

Malik James was the catalyst for the Brighton turnaround. The junior point guard scored 16 points and dished out seven assists in the second half (he finished with 22 and eight for the game), while shooting 8-10 from the floor. Junior Nick Simpson chipped in as well with 14 of his game-high 23 points after halftime.

The offensive explosion by the stars was impressive, but Brighton head coach Hugh Coleman pointed to the full-court defense of a reserve guard for giving his team a third quarter spark.

“This was a good step up for Malik tonight, but Nate Hogan, our senior guard off the bench, just played phenomenal D on their point guard and I think that really set the tone for us,” said Coleman. “That was a real key for us tonight.”

The second half started with an 18-4 for the Bengals, which turned it from a seven-point deficit into a 46-39 lead. Hogan hounded Danvers point guard Eric Martin up and down the court and the Falcons had no answer for James’ penetration. In addition to his defense, Hogan also knocked down two big three-pointers to extend the Brighton lead in the third quarter.

Danvers continued to hang around thanks to top scorers Nick Bates (21 points, nine rebounds) and Dan Connors (23 points, five rebounds). Connors had a three-point play that pulled Danvers back within five at 60-55, but Brighton answered.

Junior guard Mark Mojica dove to secure an offensive rebound right under the basket. He scrambled to his feet and James found him open in the corner. Mojica buried a dagger three that put Danvers away for good.

Falcons head coach John Walsh gave Brighton credit for the result, but also noted that his point guard was limited in the second half.

He remarked, “Our point guard is everything for us and when he got hurt it made him a lot slower and it really, really hurt us. We don’t have anyone to step in his place. I don’t know that it was a disruption...They hit shots and Malik James is a Division 1 player. It’s more of a credit to them.”

The first half was a much different game.

The Falcons demonstrated a prolific half-court attack that led to easy shots at the rim for both Connors and Bates. Constant movement, multiple screens, and the ability of guards Martin and Nick McKenna to get into the lane opened up the Bengals defense almost every trip down floor. Bates had the highlight of the first half with a two-hand slam over a Brighton defender.

On the other end, Brighton struggled from the floor. In stark contrast to how the game developed after halftime, the Bengals were only 12-32 in the opening half. Brighton stayed in the game by dominating the offensive glass. Sophomore center Jason Jones scored eight points and pulled down nine rebounds (seven offensive) in the first half alone and Simpson added five boards.

“They killed us. All the second chance points seemed to lead to kick outs for three’s,” said Walsh.

Coleman noted that rebounding has been a point of emphasis for the team all season.

“We’ve really been on our big guys all year about being active down there and not getting boxed out, and not just sitting behind somebody, and it worked for us today’” he said. “I know they’ve got a big team so I was really worried about the boards, but I think our weakside guards rebounding helped out as well.”

It was only the first loss of the season for the defending Division 3 state champions and Walsh believes that having a tough test like Brighton on the schedule will help the Falcons prepare for the tournament.

“It can’t hurt,” he mused. “They’re so good that it’s going to prepare you. When that kid [Malik James] is in the lineup, they are as good as any team in the state.”

Brighton will play in the finals of the tournament on Monday night against B.C. High, which beat Newton North comfortably in the opener. Danvers will face the Tigers on Monday afternoon.

HYDE PARK, Mass. –- Call it the biggest comeback of the season.

Sixth-ranked Brighton (10-3) was down by 19 going into the fourth quarter of their showdown with favored New Mission on Thursday night, but behind near-perfect offensive execution in the fourth quarter, the Bengals were able to pull out a 57-52 victory.

Mission (10-3) came out of the gates on a tear, with a 16-2 run to start the game and building up what seemed to be an insurmountable 36-22 halftime lead. Behind 12 points from Percio Gomez and 11 from Juwan Gooding over the first two quarters, the Titans’ young guards combined to outscore Brighton by halftime.

Staring down an even larger deficit going into the fourth quarter, Brighton never backed down, even being down by 19 points and getting severely outrebounded over the course of the entire game.

“We just kept pressing on the guys that we just have to keep pressing, keep working, and just keep chipping away," Brighton coach Hugh Coleman said. "I told them at halftime, ‘One possession at a time’, and we switched up the lineup a little bit, put in a couple different guys who gave us some energy, and it was one possession at a time.”

Mojica comes up big: Junior guard Mark Mojica certainly wasn’t expected to be the guy down the stretch for Brighton. Mojica was 0-for-6 on from behind the three-point arc through the first 30 minutes of the game, but knocked down two huge threes in the final two minutes, including two critical steals that helped seal what is perhaps the most impressive come-from-behind win in MIAA hoops this year.

Late in the first half, after Mojica had missed three pointers on two of the previous four Brighton possessions, he hesitated and passed up on a wide open three from the top of the arc. The ball tipped off a Brighton rebounder and went out of bounds, and Coleman berated Mojica while he got back on defense for not taking the shot, especially from a spot on the floor where he likes to shoot the most.

“Mark struggled shooting the ball, he got down on himself. At the end of the first half he hesitated because I guess he had missed a couple in a row. So I took him out of the game, because he didn’t shoot the ball,” Coleman said.

“I told him, ‘I’ve got confidence in you to shoot the ball, and you need to have confidence in you shooting the ball. I don’t take you out when you miss two in a row, but I’m going to take you out when you don’t take the next one. You have to think as a shooter I’m going to hit the next two or three’.”

Beating the press: New Mission’s 1-2-2 zone press was completely overwhelming for Brighton in the first half. Playing far out of character, Malik James turned the ball over four times in the first half—mainly due to the amount of pressure and swarming that was coming from New Mission’s defenders. Even when Brighton didn’t turn the ball over, though, they often took quick shots and rarely worked the ball around to get the best shot. It was a problem that Coleman said he addressed with his team at halftime.

“I told Malik to slow down," Coleman said. "Early in with the press they were running at him and making him speed up, and he was turning it over. I told him to slow down, let them come, and then find the open guys. In the second half, they adjusted, they stopped approaching and they laid back. So at that point, we had to try to pick them apart.”

Pick them apart they certainly did, Brighton finished with four different scorers in double figures, Mojica, Nick Simpson, James, and Daivon Edwards. Senior forward Nickerson Succes also came up big for the Bengals, coming off the bench with Mojica, Succes scored six points and at times anchored Brighton defensively and on the glass.

“Nick Simpson, Daivon Edwards, and Malik are our nucleus. We rely on them to show up and give what they’re supposed to give us, but then guys like Nick Succes and with Mark Mojica, we know what he’s capable of,” Coleman said.

“Tonight was a great example of those two guys stepping up when we needed it the most. We just want to build up our role players so that they can step up in situations like this.”

Foreshadowing of Round 3? New Mission outrebounded Brighton 34-21, but their defensive lapses down the stretch ultimately cost them the game. New Mission head coach Cory McCarthy was adamant to his team after the game about learning from the loss and moving on. After all, New Mission could potentially see Brighton again, either at the Boston City League championships or in the Division 2 North tournament -- or both.

“I’m not ashamed of my kids at all," McCarthy said. "I told my kids that if they’re going to go home and read social media, then yeah, feel that [pain], but the season’s not over. We’ll be there in the end. We’re not going anywhere, I still believe we’re the best team in the state.

“We lost, so what, we still have the best kids. Those guys (Brighton) are good, they’re good for a reason. They’ll be there in the end, and so will we. It’s going to be tough to beat a team three times, believe me.”

McCarthy was making a reference to the fact that with the win, Brighton got their second consecutive regular season sweep over the Titans. New Mission hasn’t beaten Brighton since the 2011 Division 2 North Final, a 55-53 Titans win. Mission went on to capture their second consecutive state title following that win.

“[Tonight] was a total mental breakdown, a mental collapse," McCarthy said. "We didn’t execute the way we did in the first half. We may have run out of energy, we were a little bit too amped like we were for the first game. There’s still a lot of youth out there, and we don’t have one guy that can take over a game and carry us to where we want them to carry us.

“I don’t care what happened tonight. We could have lost by 80, but we’re still the model program in the city. They get up to play us, they always play well against us. Some teams are just a bad matchup…they’re a matchup problem for us.”

BOSTON -- New Mission and Brighton stepped firmly into the power position for Division A's two City League tournament spots on Tuesday.

Despite the two squads falling in the semifinals to finalist Madison Park and East Boston last year, No. 12 Brighton boys' basketball (5-3, 3-1) slid itself even with division leader and former South rival No. 2 New Mission (6-3, 3-1) last night as it rolled host No. 15 East Boston (6-4, 1-3), 52-43, in the programs' first matchup as division foes.

Both squads have now defeated each of the former finalists once this season.

“We hope to make the cities (and) ultimately the state tournament so every game counts.” said Brighton coach Hugh Coleman. “It is important for us to get the league wins and to stay up there.”

Senior shooting guard Daivon Edwards lead the Bengals with 23 points (including five 3-pointers) and nine rebounds, while junior forward Nick Simpson added 16 points and five rebounds in the win.

Edwards sealed the victory for the defending Division 2 Eastern Mass champs with three treys to open the third, that helped prompt a 15-0 run. Edwards hit a top-corner three at 6:20 in the third quarter to start the tear at 33-22.

After a trey by Eastie sophomore Marcus Shaw, Edwards stole the ball and quickly nailed a shot from behind the arc to settle the Bengals at 41-27 with 4:20 left in the quarter. Edwards tallied 11 points in the third, while Simpson scored the remaining four as the Bengals lead 45-27 entering the fourth.

“(Coach) tells me all the time if I have a little bit of space just to take the shot,” said Edwards. “We do dribble penetration and kick out (to) look for me so I can get open and get reps. Sometimes I stay after practice just to work on my shot.”

Brighton, who lead all but the first 2:40, never trailed as it score nine straight points between the first and second quarters to break away from a slim 13-11 lead with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. The Bengals scored six quick baskets in the final minute of the first quarter, including a steal by Nick Simpson turned into an open court dunk by senior Prince Unaegbu for a 19-11 advantage at the break.

Simpson lost his defender with a crossover dribble and nailed a three at the top of the arc to give Brighton a 22-11 lead seconds into the second quarter.

“This is the first game I think we have played from start to finish,” said Coleman. “It was isolation plays to get either our shooter an open shot or our swing guy a shot situation or a one-on-one.”

Senior forward Xavier Green led the Jets with 11 points, while sophomores Shaw and Dion Knight both tallied nine points.

Green put back in a pair of offensive rebounds, then pitched a defensive rebound under the Bengals' basket to force a free throw score by teammate sophomore Kevin Sinatra, to cut the deficit to 49-36 with 1:32 remaining in the game

Shaw nailed Eastie's first shot of the game on a jumper from behind the arc at 6:55 and swung around the top of the arc to hit a planted three-pointer to cut the Jets' deficit to 13-10 with two minute left in the first quarter.

“It is just about confidence,” said East Boston coach Shawn Brown. “We have not been at full strength. Once we get back to full strength, I think we will be OK.”

East Boston struggled from the foul line as it hit only four of 12 in the first half and nine of 19 total.

“We run a lot of practice because of missed free throws,” said Brown. “We spend literally hours (on free throws).”

Breaking Down the Defenses: The Bengals switched between man and zone defenses throughout the game in hopes of forcing outside shooting from the Jets.

East Boston tried to push Brighton away from the three point line with its man-to-man defense. The Bengals tallied seven three-pointers with all efforts coming from Edwards or Simpson.

“We know they struggled shooting a bit so the zone helped us out,” said Coleman. “We played good defense from start to finish.”

“We tried a zone one time and it resulted in three points so we went away from it,” added Brown.

Incomplete Eastie: East Boston has been missing key players throughout the season.

Senior Kenny Ramos played limited time on Tuesday due to an ankle injury, while former sophomore leading scoring Rasheed Bell is expected to miss the remainder of the season with an injury. Senior Pat Santos also did not dress for the game.

“Kenny is day to day,” said Brown. “He has been getting physical therapy. We gave it a shot today and he did not look good out there so we are just going to play it game by game.”

Junior Malik James, who is one of Brighton's top scorers, did not dress for personal reason, but is expected to return on Thursday.

BOSTON -- Daivon Edwards took one step towards the front of the three-point line, motioned a shot crisply through the net and smirked over his shoulder at the Bengals supporters. Within seconds the senior nailed another trey along the sidelines to give Brighton its first double-digit lead midway through the final quarter.

It was all too easy for the senior guard and his junior teammate Nick Simpson in the fourth quarter, as the pair totaled five 3-pointers, and 22 of the Bengals' final 24 points, at the Madidome last night.

Combining for 30 points from behind the arc, the Bengals' hot shooters led No. 14 Brighton (4-3, 2-1) to a 69-57 win over host Madison Park (1-4, 0-2) in the teams' first battle as members of the Boston City League's newly-aligned North division.

“It was all about the guards,” said Simpson. “They penetrated and kicked to me, I made shots, and we just worked the ball around as a team.”

Added Edwards, “The last two games I (have) showed up and it feels good for me."

Simpson, a 6-foot-4 forward, scored 28 points -- including six 3-pointers -- and grabbed four rebounds, while Edwards tallied 20 points (four treys) and five rebounds.

Planted on the outer corner of the endline, Simpson buried a pair of three's early in the fourth to prompt a nine-point winning run which left the reigning Division 2 North champs up 54-46 after four minutes. Despite dropping a jumper to MP junior Johnny Bowden, Edwards sandwich a Cardinals' layup with his final two trifectas for a 60-50 advantage with 2:50 left.

“We like to teach the guys (to) take what the defense gives you and it was open,” said Brighton coach Hugh Coleman of his team's deep shot. “If we can get the ball inside and get some layups, the defense will collapse which will open up the wings more.”



A three-point jumper by Cardinals' junior Terrell Matthews cut the margin to 62-54 with two minutes remaining, but Simpson pushed the MP Machine down by double-digits for good with another three just a few seconds later.

Madison Park jumped ahead early in the game by scoring the first nine points, including five from senior David Stewart (13 points, 10 rebounds). A give-and-go jumper assisted by Matthews to junior Jaylen Bell put the Cardinals ahead 9-0 at 4:38 in the first quarter.

“We came out with a lot of energy and confidence,” said MP coach Dennis Wilson. “Malik (James), who is the engine that runs their machine, made some nice passes and shots (to) get the key people involved. It became just a dog fight.”

Trailing 16-3 at 2:30 in the first quarter the Bengals speed up the pace and forced turnovers to score eight straight points and cut the margin to 16-11 a minute and a half later. Simpson scrambled to the back-corner on a counter to nail his first of two falling-over three-points, while junior Malik James followed the effort up with a jumper along the foul line for Brighton's first lead, 20-19 at 6:40 in the second quarter.

“(Madison Park) did a great job of getting the ball inside and getting layups,” said Coleman. “We got to a slow start in terms of hitting (our) shots and turning the ball over. We just tried to tell the guys to be patient.”

After being tied 30-30 at half, the teams traded leads four times and end the third quarter with MP up a slim 46-45. Free throws hurt MP, which was 11-of-24 from the foul line.

The Emperor and His Chess: Wilson threw out a wide variety of defensive fronts in hopes of keeping the Bengals from reaching a rhythm. His zone attacks included a 1-2-2, an extended 2-3, a 1-3-1, and a diamond-and-one with the focus on James (11 points) at the guard position.

“You have to change the pace, (because) it is a chess game,” said Wilson. “I got a young team (and) I lost four starters from last year. You have to close out (on jumps shots) and make them put the ball on the floor.”

MP has only three seniors from last years' Div 1 South finalist squad.

DORCHESTER, Mass. -— There are going to be nights like Thursday night for a basketball team during a long, grinding season, especially when you go up against a team that is maybe one of the best teams on the national stage.

So all Hugh Coleman wanted to see was an ability to forget, progress and move on to the next opponent after the Bengals 38-point loss to St. Anthony (N.J.). There were ups-and-downs at the Kroc Center in the opening day of the BABC Holiday Classic for the Bengals, but ultimately they did just enough to pull out a 61-58 victory over Cambridge on Friday.

Malik James scored 21 points with nine assists, while Daivon Edwards canned five 3-pointers en route to a team-high 22 points to get the Bengals back to .500 at 3-3. Cambridge fell to 2-2 with the loss.

“They are here,” said Coleman. “They haven’t given up on themselves. I think they put that loss into perspective. That’s a really, really top-notch program that we aspire to be someday.

"Those guys are like a well-oiled machine over there and I think the guys think that we could have hung with them a little bit more had we came out of the gate with a certain kind of mentality and intensity.”

Coleman’s bunch did come out with that intensity with a 9-1 run to start the game and they were able to finish with it on the defensive end with two huge stops in a three point game.

“After the St. Anthony loss we are just trying to get back to the way we were,” said Brighton forward Nick Simpson. “We are trying to get back to how we played New Mission. It’s going to take a little while, but we will get back.”

SIMPSON COMES BACK
Simpson left the game late in the third quarter when he jammed his right-hand. He left the court for a while but returned and said he had to just deal with the pain.

On his first possession back, Simpson drained a straightaway three-pointer for a 52-47 lead with 6:20 left to go in the game, but it was his late-game defense that pulled out the victory for the Bengals.

Marcus Faison got the ball in the middle of the Brighton zone, and tried to back his way towards the basket. Simpson stayed square and slapped the ball away from Faison and Edwards scooped up the loose ball and was fouled. Edwards hit his two free throws for a 61-58 lead.

“I knew the ball was coming inside because they ball and pass it to the big men,” said Simpson. “Once they did his back was to me and I knew he was going to turn to the front, so when he turned to the front I knocked the ball out.”

Cambridge had one more opportunity for the tie and a scrambled possession ended up in the hands of Tsega Tenzin. Tenzin fired for a 3 from the right corner, but Simpson was there to get a piece on it and direct it harmlessly away from the basket as the buzzer rang.

“At the end Brighton did a better job of executing than us,” said Cambridge head coach Lance Dottin. “We should have been able to execute a little bit better to get some better looks at the basket. I thought we were good when we got the ball on the inside to our big guy, but we turned the ball over and never even got a shot at the basket.”

EDWARDS STEPS UP
There haven’t been too many 3-point barrages from Edwards this season, but this came close.

Edwards went 5-of-8 from behind the 3-point line and that success was a welcome sight for Coleman. When Edwards can become a lethal weapon from deep that only makes those driving lanes for James get a little bit wider.

“It was great for him,” said Coleman. “He’s been in a shooting slump and struggling. For him to come out and knock down those shots today was not only big for him but big for us.”