Comcast Boys Tournament: North Andover, Charlestown advance

WOBURN — Charlestown’s two stars stepped up on its biggest stage to date.

Jaylin Williams-Crawford put up 26 points and 16 rebounds while Jaylen Hunter-Coleman added 19 points and 10 rebounds as Charlestown defeated Catholic Memorial, 69-57, to win the Mike Hammond bracket of the IAABO 27 Comcast Tournament on Monday night at Woburn High School.

Along with Williams-Crawford and Hunter-Coleman, three-point threat Damante Vanheyningen added four three pointers for the Townies. Catholic Memorial (16-4) was led by freshman Josiah Adamson who scored 17 points.

“Catholic Memorial has done amazing the last couple years, a top ranking in the regular season the last two years,” said Charlestown coach Hugh Coleman. “We’re just happy to be able to play a tough schedule as we get ready for the tournament.”

The Townies led 46-43 early in the fourth but quickly gained separation. Williams-Crawford connected on two at the basket around a Vanyhenigan three-pointer to stretch the lead to 52-43.

Ryan Higgins tried to keep the Knights within striking distance with a pull up in the lane followed moments later by a three-pointer. Vanheyningen, however, answered with a three-pointer, Hunter-Coleman went coast-to-coast for two, and Williams-Crawford slammed home a breakaway dunk to put the Townies up 63-50 with two minutes left.

“Both Jaylin (Williams-Crawford) and Jaylen (Hunter-Crawford) put a lot of time in,” Coleman said. “Those guys work hard. They work behind the scenes and people don’t see it, so when we really need them they can put it on because they put in the work to prepare for these moments.”

Adamson got the game started with a bang throwing down a one-handed slam but Williams-Crawford scored five points and Jordany Mak buried a three-pointer to give Charlestown an early 18-5 lead.

The Knights got back in the game in the second quarter. Adamson scored five points, Aiden Pires hit a three-pointer, and Higgins hit a corner trey to help trim the deficit to 30-25 at half.

In the first championship game, North Andover used 21 points from Zach Wolinski and 19 points from Zach DesRochers to defeat Lawrence, 66-48 in the Frank Beebe title game of the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament.

The Scarlet Knights controlled play for most of the first half. Four different North Andover player’s drilled three-pointers, three courtesy of assists from Cam Bethel, to propel the Scarlet Knights to a 31-20 lead at the half. The Lancers never got it back within single digits.

Wolinski and DesRochers were named to the all-tournament team for their performances.

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