Simpson Shoots Tanners Past Salem

Mickel Simpson had 31 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as the boys’ basketball team won its home tournament Monday with a 70-64 victory over Salem.

The Tanners’ senior point guard earned MVP honors for the two-day tournament. He scored his 1,000th career point in Woburn’s 81-48 win over Malden Sunday and then led all scorers against Salem, the defending Division 2 North sectional champs.

“Mickel likes it when the lights go on,” Woburn coach Tom Sullivan said.

With the Tanners up 64-62 and less than 2 minutes remaining, Simpson hit a short jumper to make it a two-possession game, at 66-62.

After Salem’s Brad Skeffington made a shot to pull the Witches within two, at 66-64, the teams traded misses with less than 1 minute to play before Simpson grabbed a rebound and was fouled with 12 seconds on the clock.

Simpson made both free throws, once again making it at two-possession game, at 68-64. He’d hit two more free throws in the closing seconds to make the final 70-64.

Woburn (15-6, 13-5) came out on fire against Salem (16-5, 12-4), taking a 10-point lead, 25-15, at the end of the first quarter. However, Salem would come back in the second, as senior guard Antonio Reyes would have 11 of his team-high 30 points in the frame to give the Witches a 40-38 advantage at the break.

Woburn got back-to-back threes from junior Matt Littleton (5 points, 6 assists) and senior Mike Sallese (9 points) to open the third quarter and take 44-40 lead. Although the game remained close throughout, the Tanners would never relinquish the lead.

Sallese was named to the all-tournament team, along with senior center Bill Claflin, who had 18 points and 15 rebounds in the game. Simpson pulled down 14 rebounds in the game, as the Tanners dominated the glass.

Woburn’s Brandon Daughtry added seven points, four rebounds and five assists.

In addition to his 30 points, Reyes had seven rebounds and three assists, while Salem’s sophomore point guard Christian Dunston had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Skeffington and senior Dario Medrano added eight points a piece, senior Raphy Medrano, seven.

Salem, of the Northeastern Conference, defeated Chelmsford 61-57 in its opening-round game, and Chelmsford beat Malden 62-61 in the consolation game.

Woburn concludes its regular season at Boston College High (12-7, 4-5) at 3 p.m. Thursday. The state tournament seedings will be released Friday.