MVRHS boys hoopsters in state tourney

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The Vineyard boys varsity basketball team made the state tournament in convincing fashion with a 64-37 rout of Eastern Athletic Conference rival Coyle Cassidy Friday in Taunton.

The Purple defense held the Warriors to 11 points over the second and third quarters. Offensively, the Vineyarders spread the wealth, with 11 of 13 players getting on the scoresheet. Deshawn James was the high scorer for M.V. with 12 points and Matt Stone had 10 more and grabbed seven rebounds.

Tuesday in North Dartmouth, the boys added another EAC victory by holding off Bishop Stang, 83-77.        The Vineyarders were sluggish in the first quarter but improved defensively in the second to open up a 15-point lead. Kane Araujo provided the spark, scoring all his team high 18 points in the first half, as Stang applied a box and one on Deshawn James.

With Kane getting the same treatment in the second half, Deshawn James and Navardo Anderson took advantage. James finished with 16 points, while Anderson scored seven points, to go with three rebounds and four steals. Tim Roberts scored 16 and added eight boards.

The Purple lead grew to 20 points, but the Spartans made eight of their final nine shots, shooting at 66 percent for the game, and closed the gap.

The Vineyarders are home Saturday vs. Snowden of Boston. The jayvees play at 12:30 pm, followed by the varsity at 2.