boys' basketball > division 3 south
Abington 57, Norton 44

The Abington High boys' basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Norton, 57-44 in the first round of the Division 3 South tournament. Brian Kurowski had 15 points to lead the Green Wave, while Ryan Chambers added 14 points, Kristian LaPointe scored 12, and Chris Tighe chipped in 11 to go with 10 rebounds.

The game was close through most of the first half, and was tied at 30 early in the third quarter before Abington took control with an 11-0 run. Norton, which entered the game with a 13-7 record, seeded 10th, would never get closer than seven points for the rest of the game.

The key for the Green Wave was defending Norton center Darren Doucette. The 6-foot, 4-inch center torched Abington for 15 points in the first half, but was held to only four points in the second half. He finished with 12 rebounds.

“We did a much better job of identifying Doucette in the second half,” said Abington coach Don Byron, whose squad entered the tournament as the seventh seed and a 14-6 record. “Our defense really set up our offense.”

Making the win even more impressive was that Abington graduated 12 of 13 players from last year’s squad that went 19-1 and captured the South Shore League crown.

“The kids came out and responded really well,” said Byron. “They weren’t tentative. They didn’t play cautious.”

The Green Wave finished second in the SSL this year behind 19-1 Norwell. The Clippers entered the tournament as the second seed and also won their first round match last night, 64-41, over Bellingham. Abington will travel to Norwell Friday night for a Division 3 South quarterfinal. The Clippers swept the season series.