Eastie gets bragging rights
Fittingly, on the day the MIAA released its pairings for this year's state tournament, No. 3 East Boston beat top-ranked Charlestown at UMass-Boston for bragging rights and the Boston City League title in what many believe is a preview of the upcoming Division 2 South final.
Neither squad disappointed last night as the Jets came out with a thrilling 73-72 victory thanks to tournament MVP Tyrone Hughes's 15-footer with 10 seconds remaining.
The victory gave East Boston its first City League title since 1992.
"That's a state championship game right there," said East Boston coach David Siggers after leading a midcourt celebration after Hughes's heroics.
"That's what you have to look forward to in the tournament. I'm so happy for East Boston . . . it doesn't stop here."
The Townies (20-2) had a chance to take the rubber match between the teams in the closing seconds as guard Jason White released a jumper from just above the foul line, but the shot rimmed out.
Hughes's winner wasn't clean, either, as the ball rattled around the rim for what seemed like an eternity before finally dropping in.
When asked what he was thinking as Hughes's shot teased the crowded gym, Siggers looked skyward and replied with raised hands: "Please go in, please go in. [Hughes] didn't get anything the whole game, just please go in."
The Jets (19-2) held the lead for most of the game. They opened a 6-point advantage by the half, thanks in large part to the 3-point shooting of guard Westly Perryman, who knocked down three long-range shots to finish the half with 11 points.
Eastie extended its halftime lead to as many as 12 points early in the second half. But Charlestown chipped away at the deficit behind stars Ridley Johnson and White, tying the game at 65 at the 4:07 mark on White's jumper, then taking its first lead 30 seconds later on a putback by Johnson.
With just under a minute to go, the score was tied again at 69 when Townie sophomore Paul Becklens nailed a 3-pointer from the right baseline, making it 72-69.
On East Boston's ensuing possession, Perryman managed to get to the line and hit both ends of the double bonus to bring the Jets within 1, setting up Hughes's last shot.
Darell Flint, who did most of his damage in the second half with 14 points, paced the Jets with 23, while Perryman and Jamal Judge chipped in with 13 each. Johnson finished with 23 for the Townies, with White going for 18.
Charlestown's White and Johnson were named to the all-tournament team, while Eastie's Perryman, Flint, Judge, and Hughes rounded out the squad.
