WORCESTER - St. John's of Shrewsbury ended last season in the same city. But this time, the Pioneers left as champions.
St. John's, which lost to Central Catholic in last season's state final, defeated Lynn English, 80-62, last night at the DCU Center to win the Division 1 championship.
St. John's (S) won a state title for the first time since 2000, when the Pioneers defeated Boston English. That title was also the last time a team from Central Mass. won the Division 1 championship.
"We were here last year, and I think we learned some lessons," St. John's coach Bob Foley said. "They made a couple charges, but we kept scoring. It feels great."
St. John's (20-3) was led by sophomore forward Richard Rodgers, who scored a career-high 28 points. Senior guard Anthony Trapasso and junior guard David White chipped in 15 apiece.
English (25-3) got 17 points from junior guard Ryan Woumn, who was harassed by Pioneer defenders. St. John's used man-to-man, 1-2-2 zone, and diamond-and-1 schemes to combat Woumn.
The Bulldogs scored 5 quick points to tie the game at 33 early in the third, but the Pioneers came back strong. Trapasso and Rodgers combined for 14 points in the quarter, which St. John's ended on an 11-6 run to take a 53-44 lead.
"We played our hearts out, and that's all you can ask," English coach Buzzy Barton said. "We left it all out on the court. They were a great team."
The final period was a coronation for St. John's. The lead swelled to 80-57 with just more than a minute remaining, and the Pioneers coasted to victory.
A major reason for the Bulldogs' struggles was the team's difficulties from long distance. English connected on only five 3-pointers.
"We like to get to the basket," Barton said. "But today, we settled for the outside shots."
The early going was a battle of styles. English came at the Pioneers with a full-court pressure scheme, while St. John's pounded the ball inside. Five early points by Woumn kept English in the game, but St. John's pulled away for a 17-12 edge after one quarter, culminating in a 3-pointer by Trapasso.
"We hung with them and survived all their runs," Rodgers said. "That's really what we wanted to do."
St. John's came out strong in the second period. Four layups by Rodgers helped the Pioneers reach their biggest lead of the half, 32-18, with four minutes left. But three buckets and two foul shots by Woumn keyed a 10-1 Bulldogs run to end the half, which ended with St. John's clinging to a 33-28 lead.
Although English tied the game, the Pioneers never trailed, and got the win they'd been waiting for since last season.
"This is exactly what we wanted, and everything I thought it would be," St. John's senior center Matt LaBove said. "It's a great way to finish my senior year."
