Boys Varsity Basketball Closes an Amazing Season in the Division 3 North Semi-Final

March 9, 2018
Bedford Bucs stand for the singing of the National Anthem – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

By Dan Brosgol

Malachi Hazelton tries to slow down St. Mary’s speedy offense – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

With a berth in the Division 3 North Finals on the line last night at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, the Bedford Buccaneers came up just short against the St. Mary’s Spartans of Lynn, falling 74-65.

The game began with the stands packed with a crowd that was overwhelmingly Bedford fans, but it didn’t matter to the #1-seeded Spartans (18-3), who began the game with a dominant first quarter, jumping out to an 18-5 lead midway through the opening frame and holding a 22-12 advantage after the period ended. The Spartans’ dynamic offensive attacked was on full display, as junior guard Jalen Echevarria showcased his nifty ballhandling skills and shooting range, and big man Joseph Abate-Walsh demonstrated his three-point prowess as well as moves in the paint. For Bedford, senior captain Jack Cowan had 7 first-quarter points, but also picked up two personal fouls, as the Buccaneer offense struggled to find both rhythm and space against the St. Mary’s aggressive and athletic defense.

The second quarter saw the Spartans extend their lead and they entered the break with a 40-29 lead, but the Bucs showed signs of life as Rahim Williams dropped 6 points in the quarter and DCL small MVP Pete Kapanides added 5 of his own. Cowan’s 3rd personal foul early in the quarter kept him on the bench and gave Toby Hart. On the other side of the floor, the Spartans scored 18 points in the quarter on mostly plays in the paint, as their up-tempo motion offense resulted in a few too many late rotations from the Bucs defense, leaving Lisandro Pachecho open for a pair of easy layups and letting guard Josh Perez create scoring opportunities for Chibuikem Onwuogo for his teammates.

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The third quarter was even, with both teams scoring 20 points, and despite more hot shooting from Williams and Kapanides, the Bucs defense could not string together enough stops to make a sustained rally. Not helping the cause was Cowan’s fourth foul (which to many Bedford fans appeared to be a clean blocked shot) with 1:40 to go in the quarter that kept him off the court during an important stretch of the game. Spartan guard Steven Fama’s twisting layup beat the buzzer to give the Spartans a 60-49 lead entering the final quarter.

Bedford began the final frame with a spirited run, outscoring the Spartans 17-8 over the first six and a half minutes of the quarter. A questionable foul on Malachi Hazelton sent him to the bench with five fouls with less than two minutes to go, but Kapanides buried a 3-pointer to cut the gap to 69-64 with 1:45 to play. The Bucs had a chance to cut the lead to 2 or 3 on the next possession but did not convert, and they would get no closer, in the end coming up on the wrong end of a 74-65 score line.

The Spartans were led by Echevarria’s 19 points, as well as 15 from Joseph Abate-Walsh and 14 from Fama. Kapanides led the Bucs with 17 points, and the Bedford scoring attacked was complemented by Williams’ 16 points, 12 from Hazelton, 11 from Ibrahim Muhammad-Denson, and 9 from Cowan.

With the win, the Spartans advance to the D3 North Final against Watertown at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell at 12:15 pm on Saturday. For the Bucs, so ends a wonderful season and also the Bedford careers of seniors Cowan, Hart, Wynter Cornely, and Casey Millar.

Even though the boys season is over, make sure to support the girls in the Division 3 North Final on Saturday, March 10, at 10:30 am at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. The Lady Bucs (14-9) will face Bishop Fenwick (13-9) with the winner advancing the TD Garden for the Division 3 Eastern Massachusetts final on March 13. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for students.

Captain and Senior Jack Cowan scores his fifth point of the night against St. Mary’s – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Senior Toby Hart joined the Bucs Basketball team this year and provided speed and agility from off the bench – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Senior Casey Millar provided strength in rebounding and leadership – Image (c) Jeff JHO Hoyland, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

 

 

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