Globe launches new Boston schools sports site

Dear readers:

The Boston Globe has hired me to help run a new website on Boston.com that will cover nothing but Boston school sports.  That means this site will be dormant indefinitely. But I will keep the site up for anyone who wants to look at old stories and photos.

I want to thank you all for your support over the years. When I launched this site in 2009 I could never have imagined that I would be able to cover BPS sports with all the resources of the Globe and Boston.com. So while this door is closing another new and exciting one is opening and I hope you continue to follow  your favorite BPS athletes at Boston.com.

Please feel free to email story ideas to jrice.globe@gmail.com and to follow me on Twitter @GlobeJustinRice or @BPSspts.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Justin A. Rice

Annual City League All-Star game held on March 31

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Story and photos by Patrick E. O’Connor

The annual city league all-star game for girls and boys in the north and south division took place on Saturday, March 31 at Northeastern.  An annual event held every March, students are chosen for achieving good grades and athletic ability.  Team from the North division are Charlestown, Latin Academy, East Boston, Fenway, Madison Park, Snowden and South Boston.  Teams in the South division are Brighton, Dorchester, Burke, O’Bryant, New Mission, English, and West Roxbury.

In the girls game at 3 p.m., the south division (wearing red shirts) prevailed with a 34-23 win.  In the boys game at 5, the south division prevailed with a 47-36 win.  Honored with Coach of the Year Awards were the following: Girls: John Rice (north) and Justine Grace (south) and for boys: Malcolm Smith (north) and Hugh Coleman (south).  A great time was had by all attending.

 

All-Star rosters set for Saturday

The Boston Scholar Athlete Program has announced the rosters for Saturday’s Second Annual Dr. Joseph D. Warren Memorial All-Star Game at Northeastern’s Cabot Center.

The game, which will feature a girls’ game at 3 p.m. and a boys’ game at 5 p.m., is also sponsored by Boston Centers for Youth and Families

The North Girls will be coached by John Rice of Fenway High while the South Girls will be coached by Justine Grace of English High. The North Boys will be coached by Malcolm Smith of East Boston while the South Boys will be coached by Hugh Coleman of Brighton.

Admission is free.

Click “continue reading” to see the rosters:

Brighton High boys lose Div. 2 Title Game

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Story and photos by Patrick E. O’Connor

The Brighton High boys basketball team ended their remarkable run for a first ever Div. 2 state title with a disappointing loss to Mahar on Saturday, March 17 at the DCU Center in Worcester.  The final score: 45-41.

Brighton scored first but the opposing team quickly tied the score and took a commanding lead.  Mahar dominated with a 12-3 lead.  In the second, both teams scored 11 points but again, Mahar dominated, leading 23-14.  In the third, three pointers by Davion Edwards and Theo Oribharbo helped the Bengals catch up and actually take a 28-27 lead for the first time.  The lead was short lived but both teams were tied at 30 and again at 33 in the fourth.  As the  clock wound down, the Bengals battled back to catch up and a 3 pointer by Theo Oribharbor made it 43-40 with a minute to play.  Free throws for both teams ended the score at 45-41.  With disapppointing faces, the Bengals lined up to make peace with the men from Mahar (a regional high school in Orange, MA) and were presented the Div. 2 consolation trophy.  Congratulations to both schools for a great season.  Brighton beat 5 teams in the post season and captured the Div. 2/north title.  Brighton ends the season at 21-4.  The state title is the first for Mahar in the school’s history.  The Mahar Senators end at 22-3.

Fenway Panthers are Div. 4. State Champs

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Photos and story by Patrick E. O’Connor

Playing on the ground of the pros at TD Bank Garden on Tuesday afternoon, March 13, the Fenway High girls basketball team are the Division 4 state champs after defeating Greater New Bedford 58-49.  Greater New Bedford scored first and a Fenway Panther quickly tied the score at 2 points.  The score would be tied again in the first at 8 and 12 and end with Fenway leading 15-14.  At half time, Greater New Bedford led 26-22.  The third period ended tied at 37.  In the fourth, the score was tied twice but the Panthers took the lead.  One player who shone on the floor was junior Tajanay Viega who added to the lead with one free throw after another in the fourth.  Congratulations to both teams for a great season.  Greater New Bedford ends at 21-4 and Fenway, led by first year coach John Rice, at 19-4.

Brighton advances; Charlestown goes home

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Photos and text by Patrick E. O’Connor

In state semi-final games at the TD Banknorth Garden on Monday, March 12, Brighton defeated Stoughton 53-42 in Division 2 and Brockton defeated Charlestown 67-64 in Division 1.  Brighton now awaits results from the central part of the state and will contend for the Div. 2 State Title on Saturday, March 17 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

 

Charlestown walks away empty handed in EMass title game

By Justin A. Rice

Reviving a tradition started by former coach Jack O’Brien, Charlestown High walked to TD Garden for its Division 1 Eastern Mass title bout with Brockton on Monday in 70-degree weather. Unlike O’Brien, who won five state championships at Brockton, this year’s Townies’ team walked away empty handed.

“We wanted to continue that tradition,” Charlestown coach Edson Cardoso said after the 67-64 overtime loss.  “We walked the 1.7 miles. It took about 30 minutes. It was a great walk. Guys came in loose.”

“I tell my guys we had to live in the moment, play for the moment. I felt we left it on the court, we lost in overtime.”

Brighton High takes first Eastern Mass title

By Justin A. Rice

Brighton High won its first ever Division 2 Eastern Mass boys basketball title on Monday night by beating Stoughton High at TD Garden.

The 53-42 victory propels the Bengals (21-3) to the Division 2 State Championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester against the winner of tomorrow’s game between St. Bernard’s and Mahar.

“I told them in the locker room this is the moment, we’re going to enjoy it, we’re going to go home and when we fall asleep and wake up tomorrow it’s a done deal,” Brighton Coach Hugh Coleman said. “We want to have the best week of practice and school and go out there and let the chips fall where they may.”

Season ends for Madison Park Boys Basketball Team

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Story and photos by Patrick E. O’Connor

Contending for the Division 1/South title on Saturday afternoon, March 10,at UMass Boston, the MP Cardinals fell short, losing to Brockton 57-48.  As a result, Brockton will be at the TD Banknorth Garden on Monday, March 12 to take on Charlestwon (winner of the Div. 1/north title).

Both teams played with intensity but Madison Park could never catch up with the Brockton men who were very effective at preventing the Cardinals from scoring.  At half time, Brockton led 33-22.  Only two days ago, the team was celebrating a 49-44 win over Franklin on the same floor at UMass/Boston.  Despite the loss, Madison Park had a great season, beating three teams to reach the game on Saturday and end at 21-3.

Fenway Panthers off to the Garden on Tuesday, 3/13

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Photos and story by Patrick E. O’Connor

The Fenway High girls basketball team will make an appearance at the TD Banknorth Garden on  Tuesday, March 13 and will take on Greater New Bedford (winner of Div. 4/south) for the Division 4 state title.  The Panthers continued their spectalar season in the state tournament with a 49-34 win over Shawsheen last Friday evening at Emmanuel College.

The Panthers got off to a good start in the first quarter and took a 16-10 lead into the second.  At half time, Fenway led 23-19.  In the third, Shawsheen tied the score at 24-24 but the Panthers regained the lead and rolled over the opposition in the fourth, scoring 20 points and only 8 for Shawsheen.  Despite the loss, the girls from the Billerica vocational school had a great season (20-3).  Fenway stands at 18-3.  Following the game, the Division 4/north trophy was presented to a happy headcoach John Rice and his captains.