H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL: Abington returns to state final with win at TD Garden
© Provided by The Patriot Ledger Abington's Colby Augusta scores a 3-point basket on during their game at the TD Garden versus Snowden, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise) BOSTON — When last season ended with a loss in the Division 4 state final, the Abington High boys basketball team set a goal.
To get back.
On Tuesday, the Green Wave earned a trip back to the state championship game with a 67-51 win over Snowden at the TD Garden in the Div. 4 state semifinals.
"We returned four starters and we expected to get back here," said Abington junior Matt Maguire.
Abington will play either Hopedale or Drury in the state final on Saturday (time and location to be determined).
Like Maguire, the Green Wave trudged through a sluggish first half but still were ahead 22-16 at the break. Maguire, who had 6 points in the first half, exploded for 14 points in the third quarter. He scored 9 points during a 16-4 third-quarter run that saw Abington increase its lead to 40-24.
"We felt like in the first half we were getting looks, they just weren't falling," said Abington coach Peter Serino. "We were actually doing a pretty good job. It was just a matter of staying true to what we were trying to do and not getting caught up in the fact we were missing."
"Matty's going to get hot, he's a bucket," said Abington senior captain Cam Curney who finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks himself.
Maguire, who finished with 25 points, scored 19 in the second half.
"We know we're good ballplayers," said Curney, "so once we get fast and start working hard, we know the shots are going to start falling."
Sophomore Tommy Fanara (8 points) finished a spectacular three-point play on a layup while being fouled to push Abington's lead to 58-38 with 4:49 remaining in play.
The Green Wave kept the Cougars (18-5) in check by playing a 3-2 zone. Only Omari (10 points) and Jarod McClanahan (13 points) finished in double figures for Snowden. The Cougars only had one field goal in the first half and trailed 15-5 with 6:11 left in the first half when Abington sophomore Drew Donovan had a steal and score.
© Provided by The Patriot Ledger Abington's team at the conclusion of their game versus Snowden, at the TD Garden, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise) "We did our homework and we thought that was going to be the best way to beat them," said Serino of the zone. "We don't play a lot of zone but we're willing to do whatever it takes to put us in the best position we thought to win the game."
The Green Wave (22-5) saw five players finish with 8 or more points. Sophomore Antwonne Graham Jr. had 8 points to go with 8 assists. Senior captain Colby Augusta scored 9 points off the bench.
Saturday will mark Abington's second trip to a state final in program history. Last year's team was led by Bryson Andrews, who graduated as the team's all-time leading scorer.
"Last year is last year," said Serino. "I'm really proud of that team and what they accomplished and I'm really proud of this team and what they accomplished. They're two separate years. Nobody is going to take that experience away from us."
Without Andrews, outside expectations were lowered for this incarnation of the Green Wave. That belief was not held within the locker room.
"What a lot of people didn't realize is we've got a lot of ballers," said Curney.
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