Local Refs Get in the Game to Fight Cancer

The inaugural IAABO 27 “Referees vs. Cancer” Holiday Basketball Tournament was played on December 29-30 at Malden Catholic’s newly-refurbished Gerard Doherty Gymnasium.

Eight teams squared off in two divisions over the weekend. All proceeds will go the IAABO 27 “Referees for Cancer” initiative, which this past year raised nearly $13,000 for cancer research.

In the large school championship, Malden Catholic (5-1) narrowly defeated Brookline (3-3), 59-58, in a seesaw battle to take the large school division championship. Sophomore forward Austin Batchelor scored a season-high 13 points, including the last five points of the game and the eventual game-winning, driving layup with just 8 seconds left to play. Fellow sophomore Karlens Joas and senior Kyle Sangster scored 14 points each. Elijah Rogers scored 12 points to lead Brookline.

Ryan Grant scored 22 points to lead Whittier Tech (5-1) to a 65-57 in over Arlington Catholic (4-1) to capture the small school divisional championship in a back-and-forth battle. Matt Woods led AC with 15 points and Frantz Pinard added 14 points.

In the consolation round, Christian Dunston scored 23 points to lead Salem (4-1) in an 87-42 win over Belmont. Freshman Matt Kerans hit four three-pointers and scored 17 points to lead Belmont (0-5). Tim Mangano scored 21 points and Ryan Murphy added 19 points to lead Winchester over St. Clement, 76-52. Alberto Lopez scored 12 points for St. Clement (4-2).

– Information from Medford Daily Mercury