Keefe Tech Advances in State Tournament

In a game that was never really in doubt, rolled to a surprisingly easy 65-42 victory over Ayer in the state Central Division 3 basketball tournament last night in the friendly confines of the Keefe Tech gym.

Third-seeded Keefe Tech will be at home Friday night against Bromfield Academy from Harvard, in the second round of the tournament. Bromfield, seeded 111th, beat Bethany Christian 63-49 last night.

A win Friday will put the Broncos into the Final Four at Worcester Tech on Monday, March 7 for a 6 p.m. game. The championship game is scheduled for Fitchburg State on March 12 at 3:30 p.m.

“I was expecting a tougher game,” said Keefe Tech coach Paul Cavicchi. “They’re a talented club, they have good size and they can score.

“But we’re at home, and we’re really comfortable here (Tech, which is 18-3 has not lost a home game this season),” continued Cavicchi. “We played well and we managed the ball well.”

Good ball management allowed Tech to race to a 23-8 first quarter advantage, a 38-16 lead at the half and continued the onslaught to lead 58-29 after three quarters.

“Our strength is our guards,” said Cavicchi. “We shuffle them in and out.” With three guards named Morales, two brothers and a cousin, who have similar physical presence, quickness and ball handing skills, Ayer was kept off balance throughout the game.

Four Keefe Tech players scored in double figures with Jose Morales leading the way with 14 points, Eduin Mieses had 13, Brandon Morales 11 and Devin Arroyo 10. Anthony Morales had eight assists.

Mieses was a force to be reckoned with under the basket as he captured 15 rebounds.

“I tried to flow with the defense and work the best I could,” he said.

Ayer stayed in a man-to-man defense all game which often times opened up the lane allowing Keefe to penetrate and usually score on a layup. The Ayer defense was not able to extend outward and prevent Keefe Tech players from shooting at will often and successfully from beyond the three-point line.

Sylvester Marshall and Brent Routhier each had 10 points for Ayer.