Gametime...Again with the defensive pressure, the Jets who only came in 9 deep to play came hard with it. It would cause a little issue for the refs as they issued a quick warning to both teams for being physical. Pat Santos would sit for the half once he got his 2nd foul at the 26. 2 mark of the 1st. Eastie would walk out with a 12-8 lead to end the quarter.
But here comes MP battling right back and this time they showed equal toughness taking their first lead 14-12 after a 6 pt run that ran to the 6:02 mark of the 2nd. They took alot of rebounds both ways to make that happen when they caught the Eastie guards under the basket. That caused those same guards to pick up small fouls. Dakim Murray for Madison Park would step up getting 11 pts in that quarter alone. And on defense the Cardinals' 2-3 zone really went to work for them. But still the halftime scored left them puzzled as Eastie led 23-22.
The answer would show itself in the 3rd. Zach Gattereau started hitting 3s and when he gets a stroke the 6'4 senior can work some things. But the combination of bench guard O'Shea Joy (hitting long range)and Dakim Murray (dominating inside) would cause issues. The underlying asset was senior captain Ray Matthews who would have no trouble finding both men for multiple assists. He also hit a buzzer beater to end the quarter. Now they're cooking. 39-35 Cardinals to end the 3rd.
David Stewart would get into trouble with his 4th foul to start the quarter for MP. Even with R. Matthews running the floor and Murray on the boards, here comes Eastie. With Santos back in the game as a pawn at point, we saw the unorthodox play of Kwandell Bush handling the ball. This came as a surprise seeing as he is a back up center in most games. So they spread the floor forced the big men out and the Jets now have something going. Kyle Fox hits a long 3 to tie it at 45 with 2:05. They Joy would score to put MP up 2 at 1:59. Then Kenny Ramos (watch out for him)would get fouled and miss on a 1 and 1 but Fox got the rebound and Ramos scored to tie it again. But then he would goaltend a shot by Stewart putting Mp up 2. This then was followed by a Santos foul on R. Edwards who made 1 of 2 to put MP up 3 with 29.0 sec left (50-47 MP). East Boston took the ball down for the last possession to tie it. (Flashback...MP was up 3 on Brighton to end the 4th and Theo Oribhabor would misfire twice to lose the game the day before which is how MP got here.) Gattereau for 3 to tie...and HE MAKES IT!!! with 7.1 sec left. The MP inbound was picked off by Ramos 3/4 of the way down court with 6.4 left. Time expired and we are going to OVERTIME tied 50-50!
To start here comes Joy with another score, then Stewart was goaltended on his shot again! This put MP up 4. But then Dakim Murray would foul out with 2:54 left. He finished with a team high 18. Ramos would make both to put the Jets within 2. Then he would come back and score again to tie it at 2 min mark. Another shot by Joy for MP and Ramos for Eastie would tie it again (56-56). But then Joy would hit a 3. He finished with 17 off the bench. Will March would score a basket bringing the Jets within 1. After an East Boston timeout at 34.7, with the Jets down 1 they would go to Ramos who would score under the basket in traffic. (60-59 EB) Time would run out and for the 3rd time this season EAST BOSTON beat MADISON PARK to become the BOSTON CITY CHAMPIONS! Kenny Ramos who finished with 18 would be the MVP. And both Coach Smith and the MVP would have this to say after the game.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
East Boston 12 11 12 15 10 60
Madison Park 8 14 16 12 9 59
East Boston- K. Ramos 18, Z. Gattereau 16, K. Fox 8, K. Bush 7, W. March 5,
E. Jean 3, P. Santos 3
Madison Park- D. Murray 18, O. Joy 17, D. Stewart 10, R. Matthews 8, T. Matthews 2
D. Lawladonnie 2, D. Jackson 2
