Photography from the State Basketball Finals

Here are some pictures I took of the Watertown-Sabis Division 3 State basketball Final. Also, check out this link to see a photo gallery from the Globe. Photo Gallery: State Basketball Finals. Also, check out this link for the video highlights from the games. Video Highlights (scroll down to see basketball highlights).

Sabis players practicing before the Division 3 State Final

Watertown practices before the Division 3 State Final

Watertown's Kyle Stockmal attempts to ice the game with some late free throws

Players on the Sabis bench look dejected at the end of the game

Players on Watertown celebrate after winning the Division 3 State Final for the second time in three years

 

Watertown 68, Sabis 63: Final

Watertown-Sabis Recap

Yesterday, I covered the Division 3 Boys State Final between Sabis Charter and Watertown. Here is the article that I wrote for the Boston Globe and a link to the story. Watertown shines with game on line. Also, stay tuned for some photos from the game.

Watertown 68, Sabis 63 | Division 3 State Finals

Watertown shines with game on line

By Michael Grossi
Globe Correspondent / March 15, 2009

WORCESTER – With his team trailing by a point entering the fourth quarter, Kyle Stockmal knew Watertown was poised for a run.

“I could feel a run coming on,” said Stockmal. “We took [Sabis’s] best shot and we hadn’t given our own. It was only a matter of time.”

That time began with 5:34 remaining. The Red Raiders scored 10 straight points over a four-minute stretch, propelling the team to a 68-63 win over Sabis Charter in the Division 3 state final.

Benyam Kerman nailed a 3-pointer from the corner that gave the Red Raiders (22-4) a 49-47 lead. After a basket by Sabis’s Keith Henry tied the game, sophomore guard Marco Coppola hit the Red Raiders’ second straight trey to give them a 52-49 lead and spark the 10-point run. Watertown never relinquished the lead.

“The back-to-back threes was the key point in the fourth quarter,” said Watertown coach Stephen Harrington.

“Those 3-pointers were huge,” said Sabis coach James Mack. “We did a good job in the first half preventing threes. That was a huge momentum change.”

Other than the two 3-pointers, Watertown failed to convert a basket from the field in the fourth. But it made 16 free throws after Coppola’s 3-pointer and went 18 for 24 from the line in the fourth quarter.

“Foul shooting was huge,” said Stockmal (27 points, 11 rebounds). “We are a good foul-shooting team and we knew if [Sabis] had to foul, we could make our free throws.”

Sabis (23-2) attempted a comeback during the final 90 seconds. Andre King (game-high 32 points) scored his team’s final 14 in the final minutes. Sabis cut the Red Raider lead to 3 but Watertown was able to hit its free throws down the stretch.

Sabis had an opportunity to take command of the game at the end of the third quarter when Stockmal, Watertown’s best player, was forced to the bench with foul trouble.

Kerman then stepped up his game, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half. He was able to create off the dribble and drive to the basket with relative ease.

“As a senior, I feel like a captain,” said Kerman. “When Kyle [went to the bench], I knew I had to rise up and tell my team, ‘I got you.’ ”

The first half was tight. Each team traded jabs with Sabis holding a 31-30 lead at the half. Stockmal and his twin brother, Cory, combined for 20 of their team’s points. For Sabis, King put on a show. He was constantly shadowed by a couple of defenders but still got clean looks. He led all scorers at the half with 18 points.

Watertown beat Sabis in the Division 3 state final for the second time in three years. In 2007, Watertown scratched out a 62-61 victory.

“We were disappointed we didn’t get here last year,” said Kyle Stockmal. “We aren’t happy unless we win. It means everything for us to win and I am glad I ended my career on a win.”

State Basketball Finals – Recap

Well, the high school basketball season is over, and 5 Eastern Mass. teams were crowned champions yesterday.

In the first game of the day, Swampscott overwhelmed Quaboag 72-38 in the Division 3 Girls State Final. Swampscott was lead by seniors Allie Beaulieu (27 points) and Tara Nimkar (22 points).  Both Nimkar and Beaulieu have scored over 1000 points in their careers. The Big Blue ratcheted up the pressure in the game, accumulating 24 steals in the game (Marissa Gambale’s 7 led the team).  The game was close heading into the second, but that is when Swampscott pulled away. The Big Blue outscored Quaboag 45-18 in the middle frames. This was the first state title for Swampscott. Here is a link to the Globe’s story. Quaboag cant stand Big Blues pressure.

The second game of the day saw Watertown defeat Sabis Charter 68-63 in the Division 3 Boys State Final. I will post the recap of this game in my next post.

In the Division 2 Girls Final, Notre Dame Academy of Hingham squeaked by Millbury 36-33. This game was one of those games where the offenses weren’t able to hit the ocean from a boat. After the first quarter, Notre Dame led Millbury 4-0. Two of those points came from free throws. The offenses picked up in the second half however. Millbury came back from a double digit deficit to bring the game to within one point in the final minute in the game. But, Notre Dame forced two giveaways and sank a couple free throws to escape with the win. Here is the recap from the Globe. For Notre Dame a delightful ending.

In the Division 2 Boys Final, Milton breezed past Hoosac Valley 81-44. The Wildcats used the first and third quarters to give them some cushion. They outscored Hoosac 47-16 in those quarters. Senior Marcus McDermott led Milton with 20 points. Hoosac came as close as six points in the second quarter but Milton went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter to push the lead to 14 at the half. Here is the recap from the Globe. A breeze for McDermott Milton.

In the Division 1 Girls State Final, Katie Zenevitch powered Central Catholic past Shepherd Hill 67-62. Zenevitch scored a game high 28 points and pulled down 26 rebounds in the win. She also sank some key free throws with under ten seconds left in the game. Ashley Evangelista put an exclamation point on the win with a steal and layup to push the lead to 5. Here is the recap from the Globe. Zenevitch, Central stand tallest.

In the final game of the day, St. John’s of Shrewsbury was able to win Division 1 State Final over Lynn English 80-62. The Pioneers were the only Central/West team to win a championship all day. Richard Rodgers led St. John’s with 28 points. The Pioneers harassed Lynn English’s Ryan Woumn all day, not allowing him to take over the game. Here is the recap from the Globe. For Pioneers a comeback win.