Boston A.B.C.'s Scott Clark (21) slices past Metro Index's Sam Crenshaw during the Open Division title game as Metro's Mark Van Sickle (33) looks on.
B.A.B.C. 88 Metro Index59
Easy as 1-2-3 for Boston A.B.C. * * * Fan favorite Metro Index falls in final * * * 3-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS TAKE 2ND HOYLE CROWN
By Brad Isles Herald Sports Writer
Travelling more than 500 miles to play in a basketball tournament may seem foolish to some, but not for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.
Boston A.B.C. made its trip to the 60th Sharon Lions Club-W.U. Hoyle Basketball Tournament more than worthwile, capturing the Open Division title Saturday with an 88-59 romp of Metro Index at Sharon High School.
Boston A.B.C. also won the Hoyle championship in 1993.
Boston A.B.C.'s defense was the key to their championship run. In five games it allowed one opponent to score more than 50 points. In pool play Friday, it beat the Y.E.S. Future Stars, 79-68.
``Our kids should be commended for our intensity and team defense,'' B.A.B.C coach Leo Papile said.
Against Metro Index, it was B.A.B.C.'s guards who led the way both offensively and defensively. Sean Connelly had 24 points, Shannon Crooks had 21 and John DePina added eight.
They were also part of the group that combined for 19 steals.
``We weren't able to handle them,'' Metro Index coach John Boris said of B.A.B.C.'s guards. ``They gave us pressure when they went to a 3-2 zone press.''
After Metro Index's Steve Flores converted his own miss to make it 14-13 with 10:40 left in the first half, B.A.B.C went on a 26-0 run to pull away for good.
Connelly started the run with a 3-pointer and then after six consecutive turnovers, hit another with 6:55 left to make it 32-13. Over that span Crooks had eight points and was part of a defensive effort that didn't allow Metro Index within its own foul line.
After Crooks hit a pair of free throws to make it 40-13, Peter Doyle snapped Metro Index's six-minute scoreless drought with a hoop inside on a feed from LaVar Arrington.
Flores led Metro Index with 11 points and Doyle added 10.
Metro Index pulled within 20 after a Michael Colbert 3-pointer with 1:10 left in the half, but B.A.B.C. went to intermission up, 50-25.
Boston A.B.C. pushed its lead to as much as 36 in the second half. Jamal Camal, who had 10 points, hit a pair of free throws with 7:03 remaining to make it 76-43. From there, Metro Index didn't get within 28.
``We got beat by a better team,'' Boris said. ``I think it's a tribute to our kids how they hang with the national teams. I'm really proud of them. These kids are tough kids and they won't quit. But we'll be back.''
Both teams were fatigued from playing demanding semifinal games earlier in the afternoon. Metro Index came from behind to beat the Pittsburgh JOTS, 76-70. Boston A.B.C. edged Radisson/Wave 57-54.
``Our game this afternoon was, what I feel, the championship game,'' Boris said. ``We've had kids who played for JOTS and got cut. It's a relative cross. Where this team (B.A.B.C.) is a great team, they're a national team. There were no rivalries. We played our hearts out. I think our kids left it on the court this afternoon and it was tough for them to come back.''
``We're playing only seven people and we played a very good opponent,'' Papile said of the semifinal matchup. ``We spent quite a bit ourselves.''
Papile's team made its run without two of its top inside players. Kentucky recruit Mike Bradley, a 6-foot-10 center, was out with a ligament injury and 6-10 power forward Elton Tyler was out because of academics.
But Papile credited his team's ability to bring kids up through the program, much like a standard high school team with varsity and junior varsity, as to why they're successful.
DePina, Crooks and Camal are seniors, have been in the program since their freshman year and all are going to a Division I basketball program. DePina is going to UMass, Crooks to St. John's and Camal to Providence.
All the other players are underclassmen, led by Connelly, who has already committed to Boston College, Scott Clark who had 21 points, Saliou Telly and Q. Randall. Derek Booth is a sophomore and was recently promoted from the JV squad.
``The most important thing I can say is we have a basketball program, we're not an assembled all-star team,'' Papile said. ``I think it sends a good message about familiarity and teamwork. It's a program thing that we can bring kids up from within.''
Boston A.B.C. has won the A.A.U. National Junior Tournament four of the last five years, including the last three consecutively.
``We're looking forward to winning it again,'' Papile said. ``If we get our two big kids back, we'll have a chance.''
SEMIFINALS Metro-Index 76 Pittsburgh JOTS 70 Metro-Index ralled from a 45-35 halftime deficit to earn a berth in the tourney's title tilt.
Sam Crenshaw bucketed 19 points to pace a quintet of double-digit scorers for Metro-Index that also included LaVar Arrington (15), Steve Flores (14), Rico Abbondanza (11) and Isaiah Stewart (10).
Ryan Miller poured in a game-high 25 points, including five 3-point field goals, for Pittsburgh-JOTS, while Eugene Land (12), Brandon McIntosh (11) and Matt Carroll (10) also finished in double figures.
Hickory High standout Geoff Evans contributed four points in a losing cause.
Boston A.B.C. 57 Radisson/Wave 54 After falling behind 12-0, Boston A.B.C. roared back to assume a 26-24 halftime edge. Leading the winners was the trio of John DePina (18), Scott Clark (14) and Shannon Crooks (12) led the way. Radisson/Wave was led by Andre Hutson's 16 points, while Chet Washington and Ashkan Rajee evenly divided an additional 20 markers.
Published Sunday, March 30, 1997
