Whitman-Hanson beats Hingham to capture Patriot League Cup

Whitman-Hanson’s dominance atop the Patriot League has lasted another season.

Cole LeVangie piled up 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as the top-seeded Panthers defeated No. 2 Hingham, 74-61, to win the Patriot League Cup on Saturday night at Whitman-Hanson.

The Panthers, who won the regular season Patriot League Keenan crown for a second straight time this year, will enter the 2021-22 season riding a 35-game winning streak.

“That’s what you want in a championship game right there,” Whitman-Hanson coach Bob Rodgers said. “I was excited for our guys that Hingham brought their best game, but when you have guys that we have who are experienced you’re confident that in the end it’s going to work out.”

Hingham (10-5) senior Jack Hurley laid in a put-back to give the Harbormen a 58-56 lead with 4:30 remaining, but the Panthers (13-0) found a championship spurt to get over the finish line.

Amari Jamison drove baseline for two and then buried a wing trey to give the Panthers a 61-58 lead. Nate Amado and LeVangie then helped Whitman-Hanson put the game away as the former drained an NBA range 3-pointer before the latter cut back door for two to give the Panthers a 66-58 lead with 2 minutes remaining.

“Nate and Cole have left a legacy of how to work hard, hard to practice, they’ve done it all,” Rodgers said. “They’re two of the greatest players I’ve ever had the chance to coach.”

With the game tied at 21 after one, the Harbormen caught fire from long range in the second quarter to grab the lead.

Curtis Murphy and sophomore Liam McBride combined to knock down four 3-pointers to help push the Harbormen to a 41-33 advantage. Panthers guard Ryan Vallancourt helped keep his team within striking distance as he came through with three first-half 3-pointers of his own to help trim the Hingham lead to 41-36 at the break.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3pFavsz