RANDOLPH, Mass. – The Hingham Harbormen got a quick start out of the gates while Stoughton couldn't muster up a rhythm on either side of the ball, as Hingham downed the Black Knights 61-41 in the finals of the Randolph Blue Devils Holiday Classic.
Hingham jumped out to an early 16-2 lead on Stoughton, who was playing without captain Marcus Middleton. The Harbormen finished the first up 20-7 and continued their success going into the break up 37-17.
“It was a disaster from before it started to when it ended for the most part,” Stoughton head coach John Gallivan said. “A couple of kids I thought did okay.”
Hingham’s hot start was filled with buckets from inside the paint while Stoughton started by shooting 3-14 from the field.
“We weren’t ready to play and they clearly were,” Gallivan said. “The better team won the game.”
Tournament MVP Eddie Bowler paced Hingham with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The 6’3’’ big man used his size to his advantage all game, muscling his way into position down low. When Stoughton brought help, Bowler was able to kick it out to open shooters.
“Choose your poison,” Gallivan said. “If you play him from behind, he’s got good post moves. If you front him, he’s got great position to box you out when they shoot. If you foul him, he’s a good foul shooter. He’s a good high school player, I’d take him in a heartbeat.”
Stoughton was paced by senior captain Joe Bunce-Grenon, who tallied 13 points and 8 rebounds. Bunce-Grenon was named to the Blue Devils Holiday Classic Tournament Team after averaging 18 points and 12 boards through two games.
The Black Knights main focus could turn to the injury of Middleton, who quarterbacks the defense and is an accurate shooter. Middleton hurt his ankle bringing down a defensive rebound in the third quarter of Stoughton’s game against Natick.
“We knew he wasn’t playing, whether it was yesterday or today,” Gallivan added. “We’re hoping to for Franklin on Friday.”