Charlestown aims to reclaim City crown
Charlestown, the 12th-ranked boys' basketball team, will be out for revenge in the Boston City League tournament after East Boston ended the Townies' four-year run as league champs in last year's title game.
Charlestown, a perennial state power, reloaded after the graduations of All-Scholastics Ridley Johnson and Jason White. Though the Townies struggled because of inexperience early, coach Jack O'Brien likes what he's been seeing from his team.
''We fought uphill a little bit through the year, no question," O'Brien said. ''We play a real tough nonleague schedule. But we've learned to bounce back after losses. We haven't lost two in a row all year. Quite frankly, our kids have grown up a little and they've gotten better."
O'Brien's team leans heavily on junior point guard Paul Becklens, who has been asked to do a little bit of everything this season.
''Traditionally, we like our point guards to think pass first," O'Brien said. ''We expect 8 to 10 points a game and 8 to 10 assists a game. But he knows that now we're on him to score more, create a little bit more for himself. He doesn't naturally think that way."
Charlestown (16-4, 11-3 City), which finished second in the North, will play South top seed O'Bryant (13-4, 12-1) tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Madison Park. Ninth-ranked East Boston (15-5, 12-2) will take on South second seed West Roxbury (11-5, 10-3) at 4. The championship, also at Madison Park, is slated for Friday at 6:30.
On the girls' side, No. 20 Burke is in search of its 12th City League championship in the last 14 years. Easily the most talented team in the league, the Bulldogs (17-1, 14-0) are the favorites.
John Rice's club has a dynamic backcourt; senior Tamaria Menefee and her cousin, junior Laniece Langford, are potent scorers, ranking 1-2 in points per game last season in Eastern Mass. Seniors Danielle Sampson and Naimah Louis-Barnes have cleaned up under the boards and freshman guards Latraya Watt and Melika Clark give Burke great versatility. Langford, a Globe All-Scholastic whom Rice feels could become the best player in school history, has averaged 25 points per game this season.
The Bulldogs, the South champs, will meet North second seed Brighton (15-3, 13-1) today at 5:30 at Madison Park. North champion Charlestown (18-1, 13-1), which is anchored by Mikayla Hasberry (16.3 points per game) and Sequetta Samuels (14.3), will play English (11-6, 11-3) in the first game at 4.
The final is scheduled for Friday at 5, also at Madison Park.
