BABC flexes its muscle in first round of AAU championships

Most of the time, the Boston Amateur Basketball Club's trip through the summer circuit is closer to a sacrificial ceremony than a sporting event.

Yesterday's opening round of the New England AAU championships held at Boston University's Case Gym was no different as Fidelity House played the role of the lamb to BABC's lion, falling, 105-54.

''This is the first time we've been at full strength this spring," said BABC coach Leo Papile.

''We went over to Italy and took the bronze at the tournament over there without [Jonathan] Cruz and [Tommy] Hubbard. But today we were able to go 10 deep, able to press. Hubbard is probably the best I've ever seen at the press in all the years I've been coaching, and he allowed us to get back to that today."

Boston had opened a 59-29 lead by halftime and never looked back. Their slew of stars each had the chance to shine as O'Bryant's Farnold Degand went for 27 points while Newton North's Anthony Gurley put in a quiet 26. Central Catholic's Cruz put up a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Gurley, who led Newton to the Division 1 state crown earlier this year, has a number of visits to college campuses planned, his stops including North Carolina State, and ACC power Wake Forest.

Other Division 1 BABC recruits include Cruz (University of Rhode Island), Degand (Iowa State), and Jeremiah Rivers, son of Celtics' coach Doc Rivers (Georgetown).

The tournament wraps up today as Papile's squad plays the championship game at 12:15 against the Springfield Stingers.