MIAA Game Recap: Masconomet Regional vs. Somerset-Berkley

Last night, Masconomet Regional, the 7th seed in the Division 3 tournament, met Somerset Berkley, the 6th seed, in a state semifinal matchup at the University of Massachusetts Boston.   Masconomet Regional was in the driver's seat early on, leading by as many as 16 points during the second quarter, and ultimately taking a 32-18 lead into halftime.   The second half was a different story as Somerset Berkley turned up the defensive pressure and used a 26-7 run in the third quarter to hold a lead going into the fourth quarter.   Masconomet battled back from eight down late in the game to tie it, but eventually ran out of gas, as Somerset Berkley held on to win 66-58.   Somerset Berkley (23-1) moves onto the state final where they'll meet Malden Catholic in a rematch of last year's state semifinal.   Below are five players that stood out in last night's game.    After a slow start in the first half, McDonald found his groove in the second, benefitting more than anyone from the higher paced, open floor game. He seemingly fed off the energy of the press defense and utilized it to turn the game around as a scorer. He was active defensively, had good anticipation in passing lanes, and was able to quickly move the ball up the floor off turnovers. Where he really shined was as a downhill scorer, with his combination of a quick first step, physicality, and toughness. He was in constant attack mode in the second half and in doing so, created easy baskets for himself and his teammates at the rim.     Bjork was another player that thrived once Somerset Berkley was able to set up their pressure defense. While he anchored the back line in the press, he also benefitted from a lot of the turnovers with his ability to run the floor. Somerset Berkley lacked elite size in their frontcourt, but Bjork's versatility presented problems for the opposing defenders. He was comfortable playing on the perimeter, showing the ability to both make threes, as well as to put the ball on the floor and finish strongly at the rim. His combination of size on the perimeter and strength in the paint gave his team a reliable scoring option in the half-court.     Finlaw was another player that thrived once Somerset Berkley was able to set up their pressure defense. He was seemingly everywhere on the court in the second half, making plays on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Finlaw did a really nice job of attacking the defense off the bounce, getting into gaps and then finding open teammates to keep the offense moving. He played with good pace, wasn't afraid to be aggressive around the rim, and even knocked down a perimeter jumper in a catch and shoot situation. His effort level on the defensive end was a key to the second half turnaround as he generated deflection after deflection.     Just a sophomore, Denton had some of the most impressive plays of the night. In Masconomet's dominant first half, he showed his ability to score from multiple levels by making an early three pointer, getting a mid-range jumper to drop off the bounce, and finishing in the paint with his right hand. His size on the perimeter, combined with his ability to shoot the basketball, makes him a tough matchup for opponents. Late in the game, he hit a three from well behind the college line and followed that up by getting to the rim and finishing through contact. He should only continue to get better and will be a problem for Masconomet's opponents the next two years.     One could argue that Vella was Masconomet's most consistent player in this game, as he was able to score over and over at the rim. He had plenty of touches in the first half, scoring with his back to the basket and off offensive rebounds. As the game sped up in the second and Masconomet struggled with the press, his scoring chances seemed to fade. During the fourth quarter comeback he again made his presence felt by playing solid post defense, attacking the offensive glass, and providing an outlet that could score against the press. At 6'6", he was the biggest player on the floor and impressed by staying within himself and just being really effective at the things he did well. The frontcourt of Vella and Denton is one that most teams won't want to see next winter.

Last night, Masconomet Regional, the 7th seed in the Division 3 tournament, met Somerset Berkley, the 6th seed, in a state semifinal matchup at the University of Massachusetts Boston.