By Sean Brennan
BOSTON – Cory McCarthy is quick to point out that his New Mission team lacks a superstar this season, but, instead, is a group comprised of role players who, when combined as one unit, are among the best teams in the state.
Last night, McCarthy’s crew followed the course as No. 3 New Mission, behind contributions from 12 different players, dispatched of O’Bryant, 60-53, to win the 2016 Boston City League championship at Madison Park.
“We try to play every kid because if you do that than every kid is going to be ready to contribute,” said McCarthy. “I always tell the kids to diagnose what’s going on when they are on the bench, so when you get in the game you know what you are talking about, and tonight we survived playing our way.”
Despite not having a so-called go-to player, New Mission (17-3) is still loaded, and that was obvious versus the Tigers as the Titans broke open a two-point lead at halftime to push ahead by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
Senior guard and tourney Most Valuable Player Tyrique Lee was the catalyst. Lee finished with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds while fellow starters Charles Mitchell (12 points, three steals), Charlie Mitchell (five points, five steals), Isiah Laurent (10 points, three blocks) and Darion Jordan-Thomas (eight points, seven rebounds) all contributed to the victory.
“Last year we had a lot of people who felt like they were the best player on the team,” said Lee. “This year we are playing as one team and we are using all of our talents to help us win.”
Leading 51-38 to start the fourth quarter, reserve guard Alonzo Cooper (eight points) buried his second three-pointer of the game to put away the Tigers after some late scoring by freshman Rivaldo Soares, who finished with 20 points for the second time in as many games, had cut the deficit down to single digits.
Junior guard Romario Ebanks led O’Bryant (14-7) with a game-high 21 points.
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