Cambridge Cagers Lose State Crown in Overtime

The Cambridge. Rindge and Latin High School basketball team lost its Division 1 crown this weekend in a 70-66 triple overtime loss to Springfield Central High School.

The heart-breaking loss in Worcester Saturday night marked the end of a CR&L basketball legacy. The Cambridge cagers entered the championship tourney on the heels of an 18-game winning streak. In addition they hadn't lost a game inside the state in more than two years.

"Frankly, we expected to win in the regulation period," CR&L coach Al Coccoluto said yesterday.

"We knew they were a speedy team with a lot of potential in the back court, but we thought our inside game could offset their quickness outside," Cocculoto said, adding, "We were wrong."

While it may have been mud for Cambridge, there was joy in Springfield.

"I'm thrilled to death for these kids," Springfield Central Coach Howie Burns told The Boston Globe.

Springfield effectively shut down Cambridge's inside game, especially in the first overtime when Springfield's Maurice Blake (27 points, eight steals) pegged a jump-shot with :47 left to tie it up at 58.

Blake hit again midway through the second overtime, driving the baseline for a banker and a 62-60 Springfield lead. Then Cambridge senior Lance Dottin (17 points) fought back, sinking two free throws with :08 left to send the contest into a third overtime.

After Cambridge center Russel Jarvis (22 points) began the third overtime period with a score, Blake drew a goal tending call and tied it. Eventually, with 2:01 left, Springfield took the lead for good when Bill Muldrow hit the front end of a one-and-one.

Cambridge sealed its own fate when a pass to Tony Washington went out of bounds, giving Springfield the ball with :05 on the clock. Cambridge fouled the first man to touch the ball, Sean Rogers, who hit the free throw and ended Cambridge's hopes of retaining its state crown.

Coccoluto had mixed reactions about the teams' performances.

"Both teams actually looked a little sloppy but it's understandable in a game like that," said Coccoluto. "The first quarter was really NBA pace and when you're moving that fast and the pressure is on you don't play as sharp as you might when you can take your time and tell yourself, 'Well there's always tomorrow."'

"When you've been working as hard as these kids have all year and then lose it all in the last 15 minutes it can be hard to accept for a while," said Coccoluto.

But the Cambridge coach said the CR&L team performed well this year. "This was our last game and it's the one people will remember but we had 23 good ones before this," Coocoluto said, adding, "We shouldn't let one loss upset that."