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Central carves up CM in state semifinals

Tuesday, March, 11 By Bill Burt

BOSTON — After three straight losses in early January, Central Catholic boys basketball, for the first time in a long time, looked vulnerable.

After opening the season with three straight wins, Central lost to St. Anthony’s of Jersey City, N.J., Andover in the Christmas tourney final and North Andover High.

“Everybody thought Central basketball was coming to an end,” said Tyler Nelson, after his 16-point, 10-rebound effort.

About 10 weeks later, Central couldn’t be more alive.

Central stunned the state’s third-ranked team, Catholic Memorial 79-66, to win the Division 1 EMass title at the TD Garden last night.

Central, which is ranked seventh in Mass., plays the winner of tonight’s Springfield Putnam-St. John’s of Shrewsbury game on Saturday in Worcester for the right to be called state champion.

“I’ve had a lot of great experiences happen to me at Central, so many great games,” said Nelson. “But I’ve never been on a state champion. That’s the only thing on my mind. I want to win.”

The pace of the game in the first 10 minutes, appeared to be up Catholic Memorial’s alley, running and running some more.

In fact, with Nelson going to the bench for a rest in the final minute of the first quarter with two fouls and Central leading, 16-15, the Knights (23-2) scored seven points in 30 seconds for a 22-16 lead after one quarter.

The Knights upped the lead to 27-20, appearing ready to run away with it. But Central (22-5) stayed with the Knights, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Nelson. CM led, 37-36, at the half.

But Central realized something. It realized CM was good, but not that good.

While CM’s offense, which averaged about 80 points for the previous 24 games, got most of the publicity coming to the Garden, Central scored almost at will in the second half with lay-in after lay-in.

Central figured out that while CM’s perimeter defense was tough, once it got near the foul line, it was basically two-on-one.

Seniors Nick Cambio (27 points, 11-of-12 shooting) and Aaron Hall (18 points, 8 rebounds) were lay-up machines, combining for 18 field goals on 21 attempts.

Trailing 43-41, Central went on an 8-0 run (Hall had 4 points) and never looked back.

Well, almost never looked back. After another 8-0 run put Central ahead, 71-59, CM closed it to 73-66 with 1:20 remaining and its best 3-point shooter, sophomore Brandon Twitty, heaving a trey.

It missed and Central went 6 for 6 from the free throw line to clinch the win.

Central finished with an amazing 24 assists, almost all led to easy hoops.

“I was so impressed with Central’s big men and the way they passed the ball to each other down low,” said CM coach Denis Tobin. “They took advantage of our aggressive defense. They definitely got too many easy hoops.”