MCLA advances to ECAC semifinals after beating Anna Maria 80-76

Paxton, MA- MCLA junior Jamal Brown scored the Trailblazers final five points, including a backbreaking three point play with 8 seconds left to lift the 7th seeded Trailblazers to an 80-76 win over 2nd seeded Anna Maria in the ECAC New England Championship quarterfinals.  MCLA is now 17-9 and will face 6th seeded Brandeis on Saturday at 7pm at Eastern Connecticut State University.  The loss ends the season for the AMCATS, who finish with an 18-10 mark.

Brown paced the Trailblazers with his strong double-double effort with 24 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor. Junior Chris Harris (Dorchester, Mass.) added 21 points, six rebounds, and three steals in the win, while freshman Tyriq Rochester (Orange, Mass.) grabbed eight boards and scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

The AMCATS were led by senior Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) who finished with 22 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals. Junior Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) also played well, compiling 17 points, seven rebounds, and a game-best three blocks. Sophomore Javier Bristol (Haverhill, Mass.) barely missed a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting nine boards, while fellow sophomore Anthony Click (Springfield, Mass.) totaled 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on the night. Senior Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) rounded-out the top performers with nine points, three treys, and six assists in his final game as an AMCAT.

It was clear from the outset that these two teams were evenly matched, as they battled to a 17-all tie after the opening eight minutes of play.

The AMCATS then scored six unanswered points, getting a layup by Bristol sandwiched in between a pair of baskets by Pinsonault to go ahead 23-17 with nine and a half minutes remaining in the opening period.

After the Trailblazers cut the AMC lead down to just one, Anna Maria responded with an 8-0 run, including two more layups by Pinsonault to go ahead by nine at the five-minute mark.

The Trailblazers managed to claw back to within five before AMC closed out the half with baskets from Pinsonault and Peterson to go into the break holding a nine-point edge at 41-32.

The AMCATS controlled the inside game during the first half, holding a 32-12 edge in points in the paint while also outscoring the Trailblazers 12-0 in fast break points. 

The second half was a different story, as the Trailblazers exploded out of the locker room for a 6-0 run in the opening minute of play, cutting the AMC lead to just three.

Leading by only two points, the AMCATS managed to rally back by reeling off nine unanswered points, grabbing their largest lead of the game at 52-41 with just under 17 minutes left to play.

However, the Trailblazers refused to go away, answering with a 9-0 run of their own, including consecutive layups from Rochester to get back within two.

Undeterred, the AMCATS built their lead back to 10, and even held an eight-point advantage with 6:30 remaining.

That's when the Trailblazers ran-off their biggest rally of the game, scoring 10 consecutive points to take their first lead since the opening seven minutes of the game. Brown was instrumental during the run, scoring six of MCLA's 10 points.

Down by one with less than two minutes to play, the AMCATS found their clutch shooter Junior De La Hoz, who did not disappoint, draining a go-ahead three to put AMC up by the score of 75-73. That was the last field goal the AMCATS made, as they saw MCLA battle back and take the lead at the free throw line.

The Trailblazers were at the line leading by one with 12 seconds left to play. When MCLA missed both free throws, it appeared the AMCATS would have a shot at taking the lead. However, as he had done all night, Brown battled to grab the offensive rebound, putting it back while getting fouled in the process. Brown then sank the clutch free throw to ice the 80-76 victory.