It is over. Really? It can't be. It was so much fun.
BRIGHTON ENDS ARLINGTON SEASON 71-64
Wakefield, MA. 3/7/17. The Arlington High School boys basketball team’s dream season came to an end last night in Wakefield at the hands of the Brighton Bengals 71-64 in the MIAA Division 2 North semifinal.
Having taken down New Mission, a team that had beaten Brighton, Arlington was looking to slay its second Boston City League giant in a week. But this one was too big, too deep and too talented
Brighton used eleven players, nine of whom scored, led by the athletic 6 foot 3 senior guard Tyrone Perry (23) to wear down the Spy Ponders. And their superior size, both length and width, allowed them almost total board domination at both ends of the floor.
“They’re a great team,” said Arlington mentor John Bowler, “and rebounding is one of their strengths. They’re very athletic and did a great job on the glass tonight.”
It was rare that Arlington captured an offensive rebound while, at the other end Brighton had multiple chances to score on many trips.
Sometimes it seemed that Arlington’s only hope was simply not to miss, and senior co-captain Colin McNamara gave that strategy a good go. To say his performance was heroic in what turned out to be his final game in an Arlington uniform may be understatement.
Brighton simply had no answers for him as he repeatedly sliced his way to the rim for layups or launched threes when defenders laid back to stop the drive.
The senior kept Arlington close in the first half scoring 17 of the Spy Ponders 28 points on seven for nine shooting on his way to a huge 30 point night leading all scorers.
When he wasn’t scoring he was bringing the ball up against Brighton’s man-to-man press, and, in turn, pressing his man full court on defense.
Said Bowler,” He played his heart out. I wish we could have subbed him to give him a blow, but he’s just too valuable. I needed him to stay in there. At the end of the half when he was dying, he hits two threes to tie it up. He’s just the ultimate competitor.”
Entering the third quarter with just a 2 point lead 30-28, Brighton, behind a display of drives and turnaround jumpers from the electric Perry launched a lightening quick 14 – 2 run to lead by a seemingly decisive 14 points 44-30.
But McNamara, with two more driving layups and a free throw and freshman Bensley Joseph and junior Dom Black led the Spy Ponders back with a surge of their own to close the gap to 47-41 at the quarter’s end.
Arlington sustained their comeback into the fourth as McNamara continued his brilliant play with a base line drive reverse layup and a fearless drive down the lane for a layup 3-point play. When Black followed with two free throws, it was suddenly 50-48,and the Spy Ponders had fought almost all the way back.
“We got it down to 2,” said Bowler, “but we just couldn’t take the lead. I’m so proud of the fight they had in them. Down 14 with the crowd going crazy they were still able to stay focused and get themselves back in the game.”
At this critical juncture, though, the Bengals depth and experience showed as five different players scored in an 11-0 blitz in just over two minutes to stretch the lead back to 13 at 61-48 with just three minutes left.
Bowler then called for an all out trapping press, which created some of the Spy Ponders trademark mayhem that cut the deficit to 6, but that’s as close as they could get.
In addition to McNamara’s 30, Black added 17, sophomore James Gascoigne 8 and Joseph 7 for Arlington.
Junior Mykel Derring added 14 to Perry’s 22 to lead Brighton.
Allowing himself a moment of reflection on a season that included a league championship, a postseason tournament championship and a 21-2 record, Bowler lauded his team. “The kids put so much time and effort into this season. They’re just a special group. We only had two seniors (McNamara and co-captain Daniel Kim). They were great leaders and they did a lot to elevate the status of our program. Really, a great year.”