NEWTON — Once once more, the Div. 1 crown goes by way of Worcester North.
Amir Jenkins scored 15 factors whereas the Polar Bears put forth a stifling defensive effort as Worcester North defeated host No. 14 Newton North, 55-31, in a rematch of final 12 months’s Division 1 boys basketball state semifinal on Friday evening.
The win for the Polar Bears (10-0) marks their thirty first consecutive victory. It was a formidable defensive show for the defending Div. 1 state champions who had been coming off a sport Thursday evening within the HoopHall basic. North held Newton North (5-3) to simply seven factors over an 18-minute stretch.
“We played well defensively the whole game, we just could not score in the first half,” stated Worcester North coach Al Pettway. “Once we were able to get out in transition a little bit more consistently we were able to turn our defense into offense.”
There might be little time to rejoice for the Polar Bears, who’re set to tackle two-time defending Div. 2 state champion Malden Catholic on Sunday.
“We’ve only played one home game so far, so we’ve had to showcase ourselves on the road and what we can do,” Pettway stated.
Newton North grabbed a 14-8 lead after one courtesy of a Gerard Reeves putback and a Jake Lyons three-pointer. The guests, nonetheless, turned the tide earlier than halftime. Joe Okla scored twice inside round a Jenkins basket whereas on the different finish the Tigers had been held to simply two factors within the second quarter, placing Worcester North up 17-16 on the break.
The Polar Bears pulled away within the third. Okla hit two free throws, Khari Bryan cleaned up a sixth alternative on North possession, TeShaun Steele had a steal and slam, and Jenkins drilled a triple as a part of a 21-5 third quarter that put Worcester North on prime 38-21. Tigers star Teagan Swint tried to maintain Newton North inside putting distance, hitting a turnaround jumper and drilling a nook three.
Worcester North’s 18th offensive rebound of the evening, nonetheless, arrange a basket for Amaren Minor as a part of a 10-2 spurt that gave Worcester North a commanding 49-27 lead with 4:17 left
“We do not even talk about the MIAA rankings,” stated Pettway. “I feel like the more we do, we’re not being rewarded. We can only control what we can control, which is going on the court and proving how good we are.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com