Blue Hills' system produces victories
RANDOLPH -- Blue Hills Regional Technical School boys' basketball coach Brian Gearty figured he would have a good team this year. He had four starters -- captains Emerson Agenor and Anilton Neves as well as center Justin Tarr and guard Mike Paulsen -- returning from last year's team.
But in December Tarr, who also plays on the Warriors' football team, sustained a deep bone bruise in the Super Bowl playoff game at East Boston.
''When he didn't come out to play in the second half of the football game, I knew there was a problem," said Gearty.
It wasn't the first time Gearty lost a basketball player right before the season because of a football injury. In his first season, three years ago, his top scorer was injured in a football playoff game and Blue Hills wound up losing its first 10 basketball games. History did not repeat itself this year.
Even without Tarr, Blue Hills started like gang-busters, winning its first 16 games. ''I knew we were going to have a good team," said Gearty. ''But I didn't expect this."
Blue Hills plays in the highly competitive Mayflower League's large school division. ''I knew Chatham was moving up and that they would be strong. Southeastern [Regional] is always strong. Westport was returning a lot of talent. I figured we would be right there with them."
Two reasons for Blue Hills' success has been Agenor and Neves. The Warrior captains are knocking down close to 20 points per game. Agenor is a guard and a deadly outside shooter. Neves is a hard-working power forward who scores most of his points in the paint.
''Both are leaders," said Gearty. ''And they are very unselfish. They understand our system and believe in it."
The Blue Hills system is simple. ''We will take whatever opposing team's gives us. If they give us the outside shot, Agenor will throw up 3-pointers. If they come out and try to stop him, we will pound it inside to Neves," said Gearty.
For example, when Blue Hills traveled to Upper Cape Regional Vocational Technical School Dec. 28, Agenor hit nine 3-pointers and finished with 40 points. The next week against Chatham, Agenor was well-covered and only scored 13. But he dished off 10 assists, most of the time feeding Neves, who scored 28.
Of course, Agenor and Neves aren't the only players on the court.
''Emmanuel Janvier, a junior who has been playing basketball only a few years, has filled for Tarr at center and has done a terrific job," said Gearty. ''He's 6-foot-7 and has plenty of potential. What's really helped is that other teams give him extra attention and that's opened it up for Anilton."
Agenor was a Mayflower League All-Star as a junior. ''He's our shooter," Gearty said. ''The other night, Emerson hit three 3-pointers in a row. He had the ball and an open shot. But he threw it inside to Anilton for a layup. Afterward I asked Emerson why turned out the open shot. He told me he wanted to get Anilton into the game. He's very unselfish."
Agenor said, ''You sacrifice everything for your team. Anilton was having a tough game. I just wanted him to get some baskets and get him into the game."
That attitude has kept Blue Hills unbeaten, although there have been some close calls. The Warriors trailed by 38 at one point in the first half against Westport, but came roaring back in the second half to tie the game in regulation and win it in overtime.
''That was a rough start for us," said Neves. We started looking at each other and thought one loss wouldn't be that bad. But at halftime, the coaches told us what had to be said." Agenor said the team played ''lazy and didn't do anything on defense" in the first half. ''We weren't into the game." Blue Hills rallied and sent the game into overtime. ''Once we got it into overtime, we knew we were going to win," said Neves.
The Warriors hope to do better in the state tournament than they did last year -- a first-round loss to Hull High School.
Momentum is on their side. Tarr is close to full strength. ''He missed the first nine games and has worked incredibly hard to get back in game shape," said Gearty. ''We're slowly working him back into the lineup. Justin worked very hard with our athletic trainer (Jamie Arnstein) to come back." Tarr spent Christmas break working in the pool at 7 every morning and started light running in practice. ''His hard work is typical of this team," said Gearty.
Gearty knows about Blue Hill tradition. The Norwood resident graduated from the school in 1984 and went into the metal fabrication trade. But he returned to the school the year after he graduated and was an unpaid assistant coach for a decade. Eventually, he decided to become a teacher and returned to his alma mater as a shop teacher. He went to work as an assistant coach and replaced his old coach, Paul Donovan, when Donovan retired after 27 years in 2002.
