Bridgewater-Raynham Pulls Away from Brockton Late

By Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The most important score is the one at the end of the game.

Despite their ups and downs, and being tied with four minutes left to play, the Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans boy's basketball team (6-1) came away with an 82-74 win over the Brockton Boxers at home on Tuesday night.

"It's a real good win against a young team," said Trojans head coach Doug Alves. "They're confident and talented. We have an up-tempo style of play we like to use, and it was tough to run that against them."

Early on, the Trojans found themselves with a slight edge, taking a 6-2 lead four minutes into the game. That dominance would not hold, however. In the next few minutes to follow, the Boxers turned it around, going up 17-12. But the Trojans would fight back as junior forward Tony Fernandes hit a layup to bring his team within one before the first quarter concluded.

It was part of an 14-0 run that gave the Trojans a five-point edge.

With about two minutes left in the first half, the Trojans went up 10 on a one-handed layup from senior forward Bobby Long.

Throughout the contest, the Trojans were mindful as they limited their foe's shot opportunities. Whether it was a steal, a block or just forcing a bad shot, they found ways to limit the Boxers offensively. With 1:35 left in the first half, Trojans senior guard EJ Damberville leaped to block a Boxer's shot out of nowhere.

"It's tough to win games when you turn the ball over," Alves said. "When we can get the ball back and score, we're in good shape. We look at those as swing points. Those can be the difference maker."

For the Boxers, sophomore Marcenel Louis Charles dropped six quick points to bring his team within three late in the first half. Despite a strong effort from Louis Charles, which included a four point play (three-pointer followed by a free throw), the Boxers could only come within three points then went into halftime trailing, 37-31.

The Trojans took command yet again to start the second half, two of their first four scores were dunks, including one from Long that forced a Boxers timeout. The timeout would not completely erase their moment though, as Dambreville hit a three-pointer to put his team back up by 12. A few minutes later. Dambreville, who scored a team-best 21 points for the Trojans, also had a two-handed dunk on a breakaway.

Late in the third quarter, the Boxers started figuring out the Trojans' plan in transition. As a result, Louis Charles and junior Abu Kaba had back-to-back finger roll layup just before the third quarter ran out. Their shots brought the game within two points, 57-55.

Kaba scored a team-high 24 points for the Boxers.

Both sides had their game plan working late and the Boxers tied it up at 69 apiece on a three-pointer from Segun Okunlola.

Although the Boxers put themselves back in position to win it, another breakaway dunk from Dambreville hurt their momentum and gave the Trojans a four-point lead with 2:40 remaining. This gave the Trojans the momentum they needed, and junior guard Doug Alves hit a three-pointer with 1:58 remaining to give the Trojans a nine-point edge.