The Streak is Over!!!

Happy Holidays everyone. Looking forward to a Happy New Year, but first comes a game that I especially looked forward to this year. The rivalry game that is played in the heart of Roxbury every year since 1992 between Madison Park and O'Bryant has been a lop-sided one. The last time the Tigers of O'Bryant won a game over their rival was the 2005 Boston City Conference Championship. This year OB hosted. Madison Park walked into this with a winning streak to maintain in their rivalry and a 2 game losing streak to snap. They lost the "infamous" buzzer beater at home to East Boston that made the top 10 ESPN plays and that was followed up by a 16pt loss at Tech Boston (Dorchester). So, it's about time to get a win don't you think?

Well, in the first quarter, MP's full court press was thoroughly ineffective. But what wasn't ineffective was the triple team down low OB set up on the Cardinals' only big threat, David Stewart. To end the period, MP had only scored 5 pts, all which came from the free throw line. O'Bryant's junior captain, Ricardo Ortiz, got his team started with 6pts including 4pts from the strip.

O'Bryant 16   Madison Park 5

In the second quarter, OB took a timeout (5:54) after MP took a 6pt run. A rotation of Tigers including Ortiz hit 3s to keep the steady lead into the half despite the guard play of Shaq Robinson and Mike Benitez heading to the free throw line numerous times.

O'Bryant 29   Madison Park 19

The Cardinals 12 pt run to start the half gave them a small lead. But they soon took a timeout (1:00) after a 3 pointer by Harry Demosthene. At that point, the score was 34-33 OB. Then, the game got interesting seeing as MP fouled into the bonus (0:24). David Stewart would close out the quarter with a buzzer beater to tie it up.

O"Bryant 35   Madison Park 35

The Tigers hit 4 quick points off of 2 steals that forced an MP timeout (7:08). Then Gabriel Vieira, for the Tigers, hit both free throws when MP fouled into the double bonus with just under 5 minutes to go. Benitez, would get a steal and score to bring his squad within 1. OB called timeout as a result (2:22). Stewart would score 2 pts and then commit his 3rd foul which sent him to the bench. Ortiz, made both FTs to keep OB up 1. MP timeout (1:36). Out of that, MP got a shot clock violation (1:23) and then they caused a reach'-in foul (0:52). The Tigers lack of made free throws at the end kept the lead close. MP timeout was taken after Ortiz missed those ensuing FTs. (0:47) But after another foul was committed, Ian Jaffier would hit a FT. The next inbounds never made it down the court and as MP tried to foul time ran out.

O'Bryant 45   Madison Park 43

Madison Park will now have to finish out their vacation with a 3 game losing streak and 3rd year coach Drew Brock of the Tigers recieved his biggest victory of his tenure so far, a streak breaking win over the rival Cardinals. This takes them to 4-2 on the year including a 3 game win streak.

O'Bryant Tigers 45

Ricardo Ortiz 13, G. Vieira 9, I. Jaffier 9, H. Demosthene 6
J. Hall 4, B. Lawler 4, J. Butler 1

Madison Park Cardinals 43

David Stewart 11, #34 10, Mike Benitez 10, S. Robinson 8
T. Williams 2, M. Silveira 2