Big matchups as playoffs approach...video preview of a couple matches. Let me know what you think. Testing out the commentator skills.

Brighton vs Dorchester

81-59...and a break from the stats and story. Got some nice dominant clips.

@:24 Jerard Mayes with a steal and dunk @:50 Theo Oribhabor with a tre-ball

@4:00 Jeduan Langston crosses over Daivon Edwards

@2:50 Daivon Edwards for 3 after another steal

@4:25 Malik James 3 to end the 3rd quarter

@2:40 Malik James to Jerard Mayes alley-oop

Nick Simpson highlights

Interview with Jerard Mayes

BRIGHTON AT NEW MISSION

Gametime...this is for sole position of Boston South Division. Brighton Bengals and New Mission Titans at the Tobin Gym in Roxbury Crossing (heart of the city, I love it!). Bengals with a record of 7-1 having only lost to Brockton at the Rotary Classic Holiday tourney and New Mission with a record of 6-2 only loss to St. John's Prep and St. Anthony's (NJ) both come into this game undefeated in the city. So to the game we go...the first quarter was interesting as Mission shared the ball like crazy. They were at one point up 16-5. 7 players scored in the 1st. They kept it high pace and the Bengals defense couldn't contain sprints in the full court press they had. Since their 3-2 zone was using an inside focus, they couldn't stop the long ball in the first quarter. But the tempo switched in the 2nd quarter real quick, junior Nick Simpson would lead his squad with 8 of the teams 20 point 2nd qtr points. They walked into the half only trailing by 5 which is better than the 11 they tried to make up after the 1st. New Mission still didn't need much 2nd chance opportunities as their long ball was deadly to run through the half.

But onto the 3rd qtr we go...Brighton's hustle picked up and this time, it involved more players. Junior captain Daivon Edwards stepped up dropping 9 of his 12. Simpson added another 7. He finished with a team high 23. (It helps when the opponent you are playing has the coach you play AAU for.) Therefore, even if your team doesn't come up, no one will stop you from dominating. The slow climb in 2nd become a 3rd quarter ending 1 point deficit. It's on now!

This quarter was all about crucial turnovers in which New Mission would show weakness. The shots stop dropping and the inside focus from the height Brighton brought earlier in their zone started working. And then quick stops from the half court press that walked into a zone would bring the Titans to their knees. They couldn't hardly breathe except for the clutch 4 straight free throws at the 1:30 mark by Dashawn Fennel (only points of the game) and a couple baskets from Isshiah Coleman. With him playin post and being double and triple teamed most of the game through the ugly zone Brighton's bigs gave him he only dropped 10. After trailing the whole game, Malik James got the go ahead bucket at 1:33. He put up 10. With the rotation of James, Edwards and Theo Oribhabor who added another crucial go ahead basket around the minute mark. It was all over.

With this 60-58 win, Brighton did a few things. They move to a mark of 8-1. They end the 2 year home winning streak of New Mission and they take sole posession of first place atop the Boston City South Division. I spoke with Daivon Edwards, Malik James and Head Coach Hugh Coleman of the now leading Bengals. They had this to say after the game.

Brighton Bengals (8-1)- N. Simpson 23, D. Edwards 12, M. James 10, J. Mayes 9, T. Oribhabor 4, T. Dowman 2

New Mission Titans (6-3)- L. Hamilton 11, P. Gomez 11, I. Coleman 10, S. Murray 8, T. Watson 6, J. Deane 4, D. Fennel 4, F. Rivers 4

Ready to see what happens Feb. 8 for the rematch...SEE YOU THERE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR UPDATE

Happy New Year folks, My blog has been running a little bit slow to finish the year. I have gotten interviews after most of these games, but no story to really break down how it happened. Stay tuned for the interviews, my computer was having technical difficulties getting the videos uploaded. I will be back in full swing in the next couple of weeks. As the 2nd half of this season gets started, the divisions will pick up the intensity and I might have a little surprise for you this coming weekend. The only way to find out is to stay tuned. Thank you for your support in advance and I hope you all had a Happy New Year in addition to a Merry Christmas. For now, here are some of the scores from games I did catch in the past few weeks.


New Mission 60, St. John's Prep 69- BABC Class A 1st Round Match
West Roxbury 48, New Bedford 55-BABC Invitational Holiday Bracket
Madison Park 59, East Boston 61-Boston North Current 1st Place Game
Dorchester 58, New Mission 72

Brighton 89, Burke 47
Interview with Nick Simpson and Coach Kurtis Grant

Snowden 76, South Boston 71

Interview with Coach Megan Waterbury and Paul Maurice

New Mission 64, Cambridge Rindge and Latin 53- BABC Holiday Classic Class A 3rd Place

Interview with Coach Cory McCarthy and Leroy Hamilton

Madison Park 85, O'Bryant 62-School Rivalry

Interview with Coach Dennis Wilson and David Stewart