division 2 boys' state championship
Catholic Memorial 74, Tantasqua 56

Catholic Memorial took out a year's worth of frustration on Tantasqua, denying the Warriors their bid for 50 consecutive wins and ripping the Division 2 state championship from their grasp with a 74-56 triumph at the DCU Center in Worcester.

Tantasqua defeated CM in last year's title game.

This year, Julian Colarusso poured in a game-high 24 points, 18 of which came in the first half where Catholic Memorial turned an early eight-point deficit into a 14-point halftime advantage.

Tantasqua tried desperately to stay close, riding the shoulders of big man Brian Vayda and his team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. But the lead only briefly dipped from double digits and it was Colarusso who answered with a bucket that helped push the advantage to 20 before Tantasqua chipped away over the final four minutes.

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4th quarter

Catholic Memorial is pulling this one open at the seams.

Tantasqua will make a basket at the other end and the Knights come racing up court for a demoralizing answer.The lead is climbing towards 20 as CM leads, 62-44, with 4:54 to go.

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3rd quarter

Tantasqua scraped its deficit down to nine late in the third quarter, but Catholic Memorial responded with three quick buckets and the Knights will carry a 54-39 advantage into the final frame.

Julian Colarusso continues to come up big. His lone bucket of the third quarter came after the Warriors had pulled to within 48-39 as Colarusso calmly sliced the defense for an easy layup that pushed the lead back to 11.

David Grant and Brendan Monteiro added baskets before the break.

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2nd quarter

Catholic Memorial limped sluggishly out of the gates, but kicked on the burners midway through the first quarter and the Knights lead Tantasqua, 42-26, at the intermission of the Division 2 boys' championship game.

Despite falling behind 11-3 early, Catholic Memorial embarked on a 20-2 run and led, 28-15, with 5:20 to play in the half. Tantasqua clawed to within 12 with 1:19 to play in the half, but a couple buckets by Julian Colarusso helped push the Kngihts' lead right back up.

Colarusso tossed in a team-high 18 points in the first half to pace the Knights.

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1st quarter

Ho-hum. Just your typical Catholic Memorial start to tournament games.

For the third straight game, the Knights fell behind early (Tantasqua opened on an 11-3 run), but CM responded and carries a 17-13 advantage into the second quarter.

Six points for Julian Colarusso for CM, while Brian Vayda has six for Tantasqua.

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Starting lineups

Here are the starting lineups for today's Division 2 boys' title game:

CATHOLIC MEMORIAL

5 - Brendan Monteiro - 5-11 - Sr.
11 - Julian Colarusso - 6-3 - Sr.
12 - Allen Harris - 6-4 - Jr.
21 - Jeff Tagger - 6-0 - Jr.
44 - Mike Ennis - 6-1 - Jr.

Coach: Denis Tobin

TANTASQUA

5 - Marcus Gaudet - 5-8 - Sr.
21 - Brandon Forcier - 5-8 - Jr.
32 - Dan Kemp - 6-3 - Jr.
51 - Brian Vayda - 6-5 - Sr.
52 - Ryan White - 6-5 - Sr.

Coach: Jeff Child