Mass 17-Under AAU Event Recap
KINGSTON, Mass. - The 17-under Massachusetts AAU tournament took place south of Boston towards Cape Cod, as the South Shore Supreme Sports complex was home to the games. The event took place over two long days of games, the second of which wasn’t what many hoped for considering what day it was, as play did not start until Saturday morning. In fact, because of how late in the day the games were going on Mother’s Day (they were not running behind), there was some discussion first about not playing the final, then trying to start it as soon as the semifinals ended. Both teams wanted to start right away, but a lack of officials kept that from happening until the Division II final, won by the Boston Warriors Central by a 60-49 margin over the South Shore Supreme Wolfpack, was complete.
In the Division I final, BABC and Metro Boston played mostly to a standstill in the first half. Metro Boston was probably playing the best basketball of any team entering the game, and while BABC held the lead for a lot of the half they were hardly in command at the break as Metro Boston scored the last five points to close within 32-29. After holding off Metro Boston for much of the second half, BABC then pulled away in the final minutes, posting their first double-digit lead late in a 65-55 win.
Gerard Coleman (6′3″ Jr. SG, Tilton (NH) School) capped off a terrific weekend with a game-high 19 points to lead BABC, while Ron Giplaye (6′6″ Jr. PF, Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep) wore down defenders inside en route to 14 points. Allen Harris (6′4″ Sr. SG, West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial HS) led Metro Boston with 15 points.
The win marks the 69th state title for the storied BABC program. With the 15-Under team winning the state title in Amherst this weekend after the program also won the 14-Under and 16-Under, they became the first program ever to sweep all four high school divisions in one year in the state.
Click here to read the story in its entirety including evaluations on Rodney Beldo, Daniel Brooks, Jarell Byrd, Dennis Clifford, Coleman, Pat Connaughton, Andrew Douby, P.J. Douglas, Tevin Falzon, Giplaye, Egi Gjikondi, Marcus Grant, Brian Grossman, Allen Harris, Bryan Hurley, Emmanuel Hutcherson, Greg Kelley, Samir McDaniel, Shabazz Napier, Derek Retos, Kadeem Wint, and Ryan Woumn
Ron Giplaye
Derek Retos
Dennis Clifford
Brian Grossman
P.J. Douglas
Pat Connaughton
Greg Kelley
Tevin Falzon
Marcus Grant
Rodney Beldo
Kadeem Wint
Allen Harris
Shabazz Napier
Ryan Woumn
Egi Gjikondi
Gerard Coleman
Bryan Hurley
Jarell Byrd
Andrew Douby
Emmanuel Hutcherson