BRIGHTON WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

For the first time since 2003, a City Champion in boys' basketball has gone on to become a State Champion. In '03 it was Charlestown. In 2013 it was Brighton, under the guidance of head coach Hugh Coleman, who once played and coached at Charlestown. This is the first time in school history that Brighton has won both the City and the State Championships.

The Bengals beat Western Mass champs South Hadley 59-41 at the DCU Center Saturday afternoon.

Malik James, whose leadership was praised by Coach Coleman after the game, led the Bengals in scoring with 16 points. Nick Simpson added 11, and Daivon Edwards scored 10. As was the case throughout the season, the Bengals had too many weapons for their opponent to keep up with, and too many for them to stop.

Brighton ended their season with an 8-game winning streak. They beat Southie and New Mission in the City Championship. They then worked their way through the Division 2 North bracket. It was not an easy trip to the Garden and then to Worcester. The Bengals beat Scituate by 3 points in the EMass finals. They beat previously undefeated Melrose by 3 points in the D2 North semis. And even though Brighton was never in serious trouble against South Hadley, they were never able to pull away and feel comfortable.

For Brighton, each close win, and each loss in the regular season, served as a lesson. And what drove Brighton to this Championship was their ability to grow from those lessons. Their 21 point loss to Charlestown back in December was a wake-up call. Their loss to Dorchester at the end of the regular season was a reminder of what can happen if they took their foot off the gas pedal. Their 74-66 victory over then #1 ranked Danvers in the Comcast Classic was a reminder of what can happen when they play at their best.

We'll have more about this team, this season, these players, and these coaches. This was a great team, a memorable season, and a great achievement for both Brighton High School and the City of Boston.

Congratulation, Brighton.

Five City League Teams Advance in State Basketball Tournaments

Five City League teams have advanced in their State Tournaments so far. The boys' teams from Brighton, New Mission, Latin Academy and Snowden all won their tournament openers. Fenway's girls' team also won. Here's an update on all the City League teams in the tournaments:

Monday's games:
Boys':
Latin Academy beat Chelsea 68-43. The Dragons will play their next game Thursday night at 7 against North Andover, the #2 seed in the Division 2 North bracket. The game will be played at North Andover High School.

Dover-Sherborn beat O'Bryant 67-48 to eliminate them from the Division 3 South tournament. The Burke was also eliminated from that tournament, 61-53, by Ashland.

Girls':
West Roxbury took a tough loss to Quincy, 64-26

Tuesday's games:
Boys':
The Brighton Bengals advanced to the D2 North quarterfinals by edging Burlington 62-60. Brighton will face Salem Friday night at 7.

New Mission also advanced to the D2 North quarterfinals. The Titans beat Reading 60-57. They'll face the winner of the Melrose/Arlington game, Saturday night at 7.

Snowden beat Mystic Valley 42-38 and advanced to the D4 North quarterfinals. They'll play Matignon at Somerville High School, Friday night at 7.

English lost 74-43 to Milton.

East Boston fell to Everett 77-65.

South Boston lost to Minuteman 71-56.

Girls':
Fenway crushed Notre Dame-Lawrence 53-21. They'll continue their title defense against Pope John on Sunday.

Charlestown lost to Belmont 67-31. Belmont will play Latin Academy Friday night at 7.

English fell to Dedham 60-34

Here are the upcoming games...

Tonight:
Girls' Games:
7:00pm - Boston Latin @ Lexington
7:00pm - Somerset Berkley @ O'Bryant (game played at Madison Park)
7:00pm - Amesbury @ South Boston (location TBD)
7:00pm - Minuteman @ New Mission

Thursday:
Boys' Games:
7:00pm - Madison Park @ Newton North
7:00pm - Medfield @ Dorchester (game played at Latin Academy)
7:00pm - Latin Academy @ North Andover

Friday:
Boys' Games:
7:00pm - Brighton @ Salem (location TBD)
7:00pm - Snowden @ Matignon (game played at Somerville HS)

Girls' Games:
7:00pm - Belmont @ Latin Academy

Saturday:
Boys' Game:
7:00pm - New Mission vs. Arlington OR Melrose (location TBD)

Sunday:
Girls' Game:
Time TBD - Fenway @ Pope John (location TBD)

BC High Defeats Brighton 55-51, Wins The Comcast Classic Championship

In a game where the players on both sides were hardly given any room to breathe, let alone enough space to get a clean shot off, it seemed fitting that the most crucial play came on a scramble for a loose ball. BC High, the #6 team in the state, led #11 Brighton for most of the Comcast Classic Championship game at Babson College. Up 52-51 with 30 seconds to play, the Eagles ran the clock down and Senior guard Charles Collins drove the lane for a tough floater in traffic. During the ensuing scrap for the rebound, the ball traveled all the way out to midcourt before another BC High senior, Jameilen James, hit the deck to secure the ball and call a timeout.

There were 4 seconds remaining. Brighton was forced to foul James on the inbounds play and he knocked down both free throws, thus sealing the tournament for BC High.

Nick Simpson led the way for Brighton with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. He was rather efficient from three-point range (4 for 7) but the rest of the Bengals went 2 of 20 from deep. BC High’s tough zone defense deserves a lot of credit for this poor percentage, but Brighton’s shooters will certainly see these shots as missed opportunities that they need to rectify in the upcoming City League tournament.

Ball security was also an issue for the Bengals, as they turned it over 11 times in the first half alone. However they fought back, outscoring the Eagles in the second and third quarters before Prince Unaegbu threw down a thunderous dunk to tie it at 34. A few minutes later Simpson drained a three to give Brighton their first lead of the game at 40-37, but the Eagles answered right back.

Simpson Hits A Corner 3

Collins and Jones were immense for BC High throughout the game, and with a combined 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists from the two Senior guards, it’s easy to see why college scouts and coaches were in attendance to get a close look at their talents. However it was Senior Pete Timmins, a center with range, who hit several clutch three pointers to stop Brighton’s momentum and put the Eagles back in the drivers’ seat.

#13 Jones With A Tough Pull-up

After falling behind early in the fourth quarter, Timmins's big shots sparked a 12-4 run that put BC High in control up 49-44. Brighton guard Malik James started to take matters into his own hands and nearly closed the gap, but unfortunately the Bengals could not connect on a big outside shot when needed. James and Simpson were the stars on Sunday night when Brighton upset an undefeated Danvers team in the semifinals, yet towards the end of this game the Bengals ran out of gas against a very well-coached BC High team.

Timmins Drives Baseline

Brighton will take on South Boston in the semifinals of the City League Tournament on Wednesday February, 20^th at 4 p.m. at Madison Park High School.