BABC Select Tour Recap

New England Recruiting Report | Saturday, March 22nd, 2014

On Thursday Night, the Boston Amateur Basketball Club started their 2014 BABC Mass/RI Select Tour with two games at Holyoke Community College.  The first game pitted the BABC Freshmen against the Western Mass Select Freshmen and Sophomore team. In a well contested, hard fought game, the BABC Freshmen pulled away in the latter part of the 2nd half to earn the 88-79 victory. In a back and forth affair, BABC led 45-39 at half and opened up a ten point 2nd half lead, only to see the Western Mass Fr/So make a run of their own to bring the game back close; ultimately BABC proved to be too much in the end. BABC was led by Cambridge Rindge and Latin guard Jakigh Dottin, who tallied a game high 32 points in the win. Also playing well for the BABC Freshmen were Worcester Academy forward Caden Dumas and Governor’s Academy forward Nick O’Sarrenn, who together combined for 27 points and 22 rebounds. The Western Mass Freshmen/Sophomore Select team was led by the 25 points of State Champion forward Tyonne Malone of Putnam High School, and 14 points from Jake Midura of Chicopee High School.

The nightcap saw the BABC Junior team go up against the Western Mass Junior/Senior Select team. Holding a 37-28 halftime lead, BABC stormed away in the 2nd half en route to an 84-62 win. Four players scored in double figures led by Terance Mann’s game high 24.  Mann’s Tilton teammate, Franklin Porter, added 10 on the wing while Noble and Greenough’s Bob Martin Jr. and New Hampton’s Jeremy Miller added 15 and 12 respectively to anchor the interior. The Western Mass Jr/Sr’s were led by the trio of Jon Garcia, David Murrell, and Dizel Wright of the recently crowned State Champions at Putnam High School.

The action moved South of Boston to Quincy High School on Friday Night, for the 12th Annual Fitzy-Nolan games, chaired by former Mount Ida College Head Coach, Rico Cabral. The first game saw the BABC Freshmen against the South Select Freshmen/Sophomore team. In another back and forth contest, the BABC Freshmen pulled away late to earn the 98-92 victory. Trailing 50-37 at half, BABC saw the South Select come out hot from beyond the arc in the 2nd half, led by Catholic Memorial’s Kellan Grady four three pointers; but Cambridge Rindge and Latin guard Jakigh Dottin stole the show for BABC, his 17 second half points leading BABC back for the victory. Dottin tallied a game high 25 points for BABC, while Grady topped for the Select team with 22. BB&N guard, Geo Baker, added 21 points for the BABC Freshmen, while Garrett Stephenson and Terrell Brown chipped in with 15 and 12, respectively. Grady’s Catholic Memorial teammate, Brandon Twitty added 12 points for the South Select.

The final game of the night saw the BABC Juniors against the South Select Junior/Senior team. Opening up a convincing 41-22 halftime lead, the BABC Juniors were able to cruise to the 81-60 victory, again playing and executing at a high level.  Vermont Academy’s Bruce Brown led a balanced attack for BABC tallying a game high 15 points while Mann added 14 and Durfee’s Tyree Robinson 13 for the BABC. The South Select Jr/Sr’s were led by Mansfield’s Michael Boen who tallied a team high 13 points.

The BABC, in in conjunction with the Fitzy-Nolan games Chairman, Rico Cabral, also presented the first annual BABC/Fitzy-Nolan Games “Friend of the Game” Lifetime Achievement award to Donald “Dee” Rowe; former basketball coach at Worcester Academy, the University of Connecticut, and the 1980 United States Olympic team.  Cabral and BABC Executive Director Britney Papile issued the following statement: “Coach Rowe has mentored countless individuals and guided all by example throughout his career; all while making the needs of others his main priority. On behalf of the Fitzy-Nolan Games and Boston Amateur Basketball Club, we are proud to name Coach Rowe the inaugural recipient of this award.”

The action continued on Saturday at Worcester Academy with a double-header against the Central Mass Select team.  In a hotly contested opening game, the Central Mass Freshmen and Sophomores were able to pull out the victory. Leading 45-40 at half, the Central Mass Selects saw a balanced attack with Quaboag’s Will Watkins and Main South’s Edyesser Parades leading the squad with 15 points each while Groton-Dunstable’s Corey Romich and St. Peter Marian guard Makai Ashton-Langford added 11 each. Dottin continued to lead the way for the BABC freshmen, tallying a game high 31, while Stephenson chipped in with 10.  The BABC 11th grade team scored some retribution in the second contest, running away with a 95-75 victory.  Miller scored a game high 19 points while Brown and Mann added 14 and 11 respectively.  The Central Mass Selects were led by Doherty High’s Youssef Fodaile who tallied a team high 13 points.

The Massachusetts portion of the Select Tour wrapped up on Sunday with BABC’s fourth double-header in as many days, this one taking place at Saem State against top players from the northern portion of the state.  In the opener, the BABC freshmen were able to build a double digit halftime lead (43-31) and gradually extend that margin throughout the second before earning a 93-68 victory.  Dottin led the way with 18 while Baker added 14, Cole Swider 11, and Stephenson 10.  Central Catholic’s Kevin Fernandez led the North Select team with 17 while Michael Boyd (Malden Catholic) and Anthony Silfa (St. Mary’s of Lynn) each added 12 in the loss.  The nightcap saw the BABC juniors extend a 37-32 halftime lead into an 80-65 victory to punctuate their pre-season tune-up.  Balance was again the key as four players scored in double figures with Mann finishing with 16, Brown 15, Miller 14, and Robinson 12.  Leading the way for the North Select’s was recently crowned Gatorade Player of the Year, Tyler Nelson who poured in 18 points, 12 from beyond the arc.

The final leg of the Select Tour saw the BABC Junior’s travel to CCRI to take on the best Rhode Island has to offer. The uniors played perhaps their best game of the tour, coming away with the 99-48 victory. Robinson scored a game high 23 while Newton North’s Tommy Mobley had his best showing with 17.  Brown and Franklin chipped in with 16 and 15 respectively.  

The BABC will continue their spring circuit this coming weekend with the Annual BABC Tipoff Tournament which will be held at the MPLex in Mansfield, as well as sites at Chelsea High School and Cathedral High School. For more information please visit www.thebabc.com.