By Sean Brennan
WAKEFIELD – There comes a point in every game when superior talent just takes over and the opposition has no answer.
For top-seed Cambridge, that point came the moment the ball was put into play to start the second half of last night’s Division 1 North semifinal matchup with No. 5 Central Catholic at Wakefield High.
Tied at 22-22, the Falcons opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run, and outscored the Raiders, 22-7, in the frame before salting away the game in the fourth quarter, to win in convincing fashion, 64-42, and advance to a second straight sectional final on Saturday against the winner of tonight’s other semifinal between No. 3 Everett and No. 2 Lowell.
“For us it is just playing the style of basketball we have played all year,” said Cambridge coach Lance Dottin whose team has yet to lose a game to an in-state opponent this season. “I thought we let them dictate the style of game (in the first half), but we got more aggressive in the second half.”
Leading the charge, offensively, for Cambridge (21-1) was Jakigh Dottin.
The junior guard took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his team-high 19 points after the break while, defensively, the Falcons forced Central Catholic into five early third quarter turnovers that fueled the scoring run that put Cambridge up 44-29 heading into the final eight minutes.
And at the middle of this defensive domination was junior center Dimon Carrigan (nine points, five blocks, eight rebounds).
“Dimon has been amazing all year,” Dottin said. “He is the rim protector and he changes a lot of shots; for us, he is as important as any kid on this team.”
Central Catholic (15-8) was led by junior Kevin Fernandez (14 points, six rebounds) while Colin Bradanese chipped in with six points off the bench.
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