Titans on a mission in City League showdown

By Evan MacDonald, Globe Correspondent | February 15, 2010

On Thursday, the Boston City League semifinals will be held at Madison Park High School. Defending champion Madison Park faces Boston English at 4 p.m., followed by East Boston and New Mission at 5:30 p.m. The final is Friday at 6:30 p.m. A look at the semifinal matchups:

Madison Park (16-1) vs. Boston English (13-7)

The defending champion Cardinals will enter the tournament with virtually the same roster that helped them win the title last season.

Center David Campbell and guard Spencer Brathwaite are the team’s top scoring options, but the rest of the roster, with nine seniors, is deep and talented. Coach Dennis Wilson said forward Jamill Moquete has been a difference maker this season with his scoring and defense.

Jamal McCollum, Andre Mascoll, Jonathan Jean-Louis, and junior Khayree Hudson also provide size and athleticism in the front court. Senior guards Kevin Stokes and Tyler Pettus team with Brathwaite in the Cardinals’ fleet backcourt.

Wilson said he’s particularly enjoyed coaching these players, many of whom have been with him for three or four seasons. He said ending with another league championship would be a great way to head into the state tournament.

“[My players are] truly blessed with their attitude, and outlook; they stay hungry and focused,’’ Wilson said. “That’s our mantra, so to speak. We’re hungry for the next achievement, and focused on where we want to go, and that’s to defend our city crown.’’

Boston English, on the other hand, is a young team that has taken its lumps at times this season, including two losses to New Mission. The Blue and Blue came into the season with an entirely new roster than the one that qualified for last year’s city playoffs; coach Barry Robinson said none of the players were even in the program last season.

Still, English won some tough road games against Division 1 teams like New Bedford and Durfee in qualifying for the city playoffs. Seniors Antonio Jones, Alex DoSouto, and Jose Figueroa, and sophomore Shane Brown-Davis have been some of English’s key players, Robinson said.

For the Blue and Blue to take down the Cardinals, Robinson said his team will need to be efficient on offense and take what the defense gives them.

“We’ll need to cut down on turnovers against a veteran team like that,’’ he said. “But we’ll give them a game.’’

New Mission (17-1) vs. East Boston (15-3)

The Jets took a 68-66 decision when the teams met Jan. 24, but New Mission was without senior point guard Osmel Odena during that game. Titans coach Cory McCarthy said the key to this rematch could be which team is able to make the right adjustments.

The Titans like to pound the ball inside and play pressure defense. Odena directs the offense, while juniors Samir McDaniels, Charles Gunter, and Kachi Nzerem provide much of the scoring. Senior Ousmane Drame, at 6 feet 8 inches, anchors the team’s half-court pressure defense.

Senior Taj Banks, juniors Darius Davis, Jonathan Basile, and James Morgan Thames and freshman Nathaniel Anderson give the Titans depth, allowing the team to play an up-tempo style.

McCarthy said he thinks his team may have a psychological advantage entering the tournament because New Mission, the smallest school in the league, is playing for respect. While the other three teams qualified for the city playoffs last season, the Titans are new to the tournament.

“Madison, Boston English, and East Boston, they’re established,’’ he said. “Our kids are playing for a lot more than any other teams are, and hopefully that’ll make them hungrier.’’

East Boston, meanwhile, likes to push the tempo. A young, athletic roster has helped the Jets stay in the race for the league title.

Dimitry Coronel, Jeff Amazan, John Flakes, and Kevin Orenella comprise an athletic frontcourt, while guards Tweet Wynn, Walter Lewis, and Dion Ruff help the Jets push the ball in transition.

The Jets started 10-0 before losing three of four. But East Boston has recovered and enters the week on a four-game winning streak.

Tournament talk
The Third Annual Basketball X-Perts Black History Month Classic will be held today at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston. Madison Park and Rivers will play at noon, followed by Boston Trinity and Lawrence at 1:45 p.m. The New Mission girls will play against La Salle Academy at 3 p.m., and East Boston will close out the event against Lawrence Academy at 4:15 p.m.

The MIAA state tournament seeds will be announced this week. North, South, and Central pairings will be announced Friday, with the West pairings following Saturday.

Games of the week:
Monday: No. 10 Cambridge (14-3) at No. 3 Brockton (16-2), 7 p.m. - Both traditional powers are playing their best basketball late in the season, and this matchup will provide each with a solid tune-up entering the postseason.

Tuesday: Hamilton-Wenham (15-2) at No. 11 North Andover (17-2), 7 p.m. - The Generals, the Cape Ann Small champions, will try to prevent Large champs North Andover from finishing a perfect league season.

Wednesday: No. 5 St. John’s Prep (17-1) at No. 1 Central Catholic (18-1), 7 p.m. - This game could determine the top seed in the Division 1 North tournament, and may well be a preview of the North final at TD Garden March 5.