Brockton rallies to defeat Cambridge on a special night

BROCKTON — Brockton coach Bob Boen feels like he can pull the Boxers’ full-court, trapping press out of his pocket at any time.

And against No. 14 Cambridge Friday, ninth-ranked Brockton deployed the tactic starting in the second quarter to engineer a much-needed turnaround from a 14-point deficit and the Boxers held on late for a 72-69 nonleague win at Staff Gymnasium.

“A slow start, (we feel) we’re still going to be OK because we’re going to come after them later in the game,” said Boen as the Boxers forced 21 turnovers. “Almost everybody we can catch up points with that press.”

Brockton (10-1), which dealt with a bevy of foul trouble forcing it to mix up its rotations, really hit its stride midway through the third quarter behind the play of Nayvon Reid (24 points) and Vykem Nichols (15 points) as the Boxers went on a 20-4 tear to take their first lead since the opening minutes.

Cambridge (9-3) wouldn’t go down silently, battling back to take a brief lead before Brockton knocked down its only two 3-pointers of the game out of 19 attempts in the fourth quarter to build a 70-61 advantage with 2:43 left.

The Falcons had one last answer, getting a 3-pointer from Cooper Wright (21 points) and a bucket from Khai Smith to get within a point with 38 seconds left. But Reid then hit two clutch free throws and Cambridge’s game-tying attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.

“(Cambridge) played almost a perfect first quarter,” Boen said, “and to be able to come back after they do that, it shows a lot about us.”

Prior to the game, Brockton dedicated its court to former longtime coach Victor M. Ortiz. In his 24 years at the helm from 1983-2007, Ortiz, who is a member of the Massachusetts High School Basketball Hall of Fame, amassed 384 wins.

“It was just a great night,” Boen said. “We’re very proud here.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37sRAZI