BOSTON – For the first time since 2022, O’Bryant is back in the Boston City League final thanks to a timely bucket and some even better defense.

With a 24-19 deficit late in the third, the Tigers dug down deep on defense to upend defending champion Latin Academy 36-32 at Madison Park in the BCL semifinals. O’Bryant will face Snowden, which outlasted New Mission 47-37 in overtime thanks to 39 points from Jenalis Mercado.

“It feels great,” said O’Bryant coach Shaleyse Smallwood. “These girls have been working hard all year. They deserve it.”

After three, Latin Academy was clinging to a 25-22 lead, but O’Bryant turned up the defense at that point as they held the Dragons 0-of-3 from the field with four turnovers to retake the lead for the first time since the first quarter at 28-26 after a deep two-pointer for eighth grader Julia Manning (seven points).

“That’s where we hang our hat,” Smallwood said about the team’s defensive effort. “Our defense is where we hang our hat. Some turnovers and getting some easy buckets.”

From there, the teams traded buckets and free throws, but junior Amira Mohamed (seven points) hit the game-sealing jumper at 34-30 with 35.1 seconds to go.

In a back-and-forth first quarter, the teams battled for three ties and four lead changes with O’Bryant going up 10-8 late in the frame on a bucket for junior Melissa Cuevas (13 points, 15 rebounds) as she led all scorers at the half with eight points.

Latin Academy took over in the second quarter to go up 18-16 at the half thanks in part to six points and four steals in the quarter for eighth grader Maddie Andarade (eight points, seven steals). Sophomore Kiara Collins (12 points) netted her six points in the first quarter to also pace the Dragons at the half.

“(Latin Academy) has had our number over the years, so I definitely feel very good especially over a competitive team,” said Smallwood.

In the opener, Snowden (20-0) looked like it was ready for a cakewalk as it built up an 18-6 lead behind Mercado, the explosive freshman guard who scored 16 points in the opening eight minutes. The Cougars maintained the lead for much of the way before the Titans staged a rally behind Jacaya Ford (11 points) and Janiel Parham (six second half points) to deadlock the score at 35 at the end of regulation.

The overtime was the Mercado Show as she scored all 12 of her team’s points in the extra session.