Charlestown High Boys' Varsity Basketball Heads To Finals

Charlestown won Boston's City League title last year, and when their 16-4 record this year didn't even qualify them for the City League contest, a lesser team might have called it quits and packed in their gym shorts. 

The Townies didn't, though, and now they are on their way to the Division 1 North Finals.  Their defeat of Central Catholic last night was a close one, at 54-47, and several news agencies covered their victory.  

The Boston Herald called them "Toasts Of Town" in their article, and in a Herald sports blog about the game said, "If there is a redeeming quality about this Townie team, it would have to be their resiliency," mentioned that they were "only playing 6 guys," and gave them credit for their "mental toughness."  

Charlestown coach Edson Cardoso told the Globe that “[Not playing in the City playoffs] was a big motivator,’’ and added, “We wanted to get our championship back, these guys take the City playoffs more serious than the state tournament, which is great, but not making the [City playoffs] really made us energized and motivated to just keep winning.’’

ESPN Boston pointed out some nailbiting moments in the game, including a free throw opportunity for the Townies that came close to the buzzer.  As writer Andy Smith said:

With less than one minute to go in Charlestown’s Division 1 North tournament quarterfinal game against Central Catholic Thursday, Tyrese Hoxter stepped to the free throw line. 

Charlestown was ahead by four points, so if he made both, Hoxter (12 points) could have forced Central to shoot desperation three’s as their only way to get back in the game. 

He made the first. If he missed the second, Central could still race down and get a quick basket and make it a one-possession game. His second shot hit the rim and bounced away, keeping Central’s hope temporarily alive. 

However, Charlestown’s Tyrik Jackson (10 points, 11 rebounds) came away with the offensive board and passed it out to teammate Rony Fernandez on the perimeter. Central was forced to foul Fernandez, allowing Charlestown (19-4) to hold on for a 54-47 victory. 

The Globe also noted the efforts of Tyrese Hoxter, saying, "The turning point Thursday night was a 12-point fourth-quarter run, emphatically capped by a Tyrese Hoxter dunk with just under three minutes to play to put the Townies ahead, 51-41."

After the game Coach Cardoso said to the Herald blog: “I told the guys that Central Catholic was a great team, we’re a good team and we had to play hard against them.  Every time we play Central Catholic, it’s a rivalry. The previous coach (Steve Cassidy) didn’t beat them, the coach before that (Jack O’Brien) didn’t beat them, so we really wanted to get this one for Charlestown.”

The team will be facing Lexington High, who beat Acton-Boxboro in their semifinals by a margin of one point, 51-50, and who have not been to the Division 1 North Finals since 1989, according to the Globe.     

The game is at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell this Saturday, March 10th, at 6 o'clock.