Somerset Berkley boys' basketball dethrones Malden Catholic in Division 2 for first title since 1954
'We all had a lot of energy right from the jump,' McDonald said. 'Got out to a big start in the first quarter and just carried on that momentum.'
Somerset Berkley's Dom Taylor (13) and the Raiders bench react after he sank a 3-pointer in the second half of the Blue Raiders' blowout victory Sunday.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
Junior guard Dom Taylor led the Blue Raiders with 17 points and six rebounds, but the contributions came from across the lineup.
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McDonald (12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) and junior Colten Pacheco (14 points, 3 rebounds) were stellar in the backcourt. Senior forward Finn Bjork (11 points, 14 rebounds) thrived in the post, and senior Max Finlaw hit three key 3-pointers.
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Somerset Berkley came out the hungrier team, and built an early double-digit advantage by winning almost every 50-50 ball. On the offensive end, the Blue Raiders' ball movement was crisp, generating wide open looks from 3-point range.
On the other end, the shell-shocked Lancers couldn't buy a shot.
Malden Catholic standout guard Matt Gaffney was held to just 7 points, thanks to outstanding defense from Taylor and senior Alex Crook.
'They are two of the best defenders in the state,' Bjork said of Taylor and Crook. 'They're insane. Pests in practice, nobody wants to be guarded by them in practice, but love to watch them in the game.'
Somerset Berkley senior captain Finn Bjork (15) is pumped after drawing a foul Sunday at Tsongas Center in Lowell.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
Somerset Berkley opened up a 20-point edge midway through the second quarter, but Malden Catholic (22-2) cut the deficit to 14 at the half after a 6-0 run. Unfazed, the Blue Raiders punched back with an 8-2 spurt to start the third quarter and never looked back.
Somerset Berkley was thrilled to learn it would play the Lancers in the final, since Malden Catholic eliminated the Blue Raiders in the semifinals last season.
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'There was a big push to get them in this game,' said Somerset Berkley coach Robert Slater. 'We wanted to be on the opposite side. We wanted them bad.'
In preparation, the Blue Raiders had their bench players mimic Malden Catholic's players in practice. Players also put an extra emphasis on watching the Lancers on film. All of it paid off.
'We had a little bit of house money,' McDonald said. 'Everybody assumed, 'Oh, Malden Catholic, they're going for the four-peat. They've been dominant all year.' But we just came out and played aggressive and didn't back down at all.'
Somerset Berkley senior captains Zachary King (12), Finn Bjork (center), and Alex Crook (21) celebrate with their fans after winning Sunday's Division 2 boys' basketball state championship.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
Somerset Berkley 65, Malden Catholic 44
at Tsongas Center, Lowell
Somerset Berkley (24-1) 14 18 22 11 — 65
Malden Catholic (22-2) 6 12 11 13 — 44
SOMERSET BERKLEY — Max Finlaw 3 1 9, Colten Pacheco 6 0 14, Dom Taylor 7 0 17, Brendan McDonald 5 1 12, Finn Bjork 5 1 11, Kaven dos Santos 1 2. Totals 27 3 65.
MALDEN CATHOLIC — Matt Gaffney 2 3 7, Colin Mannke 2 0 5, Ben Howard 1 2 4, Abraham Camara 3 6, Aboubakar Nimaka 7 0 14, Mamadou Camara 3 0 6, Jeremiah Figaro 1 0 2. Totals 19 5 44.
3-pt. goals: SB Max Finlaw 2, Colten Pacheco 2, Dom Taylor 3, Brendan McDonald; MC Colin Mannke.
Somerset Berkley senior Zachary King fires up the bench and the crowd as the Blue Raiders pull clear in the second half of Sunday's Division 2 boys' basketball state final.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
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