By Jim Clark
WORCESTER -- The question entering Sunday afternoon's Central Mass Division 1 boy's semifinal was this: Which would be more intimidating -- Burncoat's 6-foot-11 shot blocker Mike Bradley, or Fitchburg's "Chinese" defense?
Both caused the opposition plenty of problems, but in the end, the Red Raiders had the last and largest answer. Burncoat held a one-point advantage with 6:28 to go, but Fitchburg used its press to go on a game ending 26-3 run and pull away for a 69-47 win at WPI's Harrington Auditorium.
The top-seeded Red Raiders will face No. 2 St. John's (a 73-53 winner over Milford) in Friday night's championship game at 7:30 p.m. at WPI.
In the battle of incredible stats, Bradley finished with a game high 25 points along with 10 rebounds, 11 blocks, 2 assists and 2 steals. However, the Red Raiders countered by forcing 34 turnovers while fumbling it away just 5 times themselves.
Then there was the re-emergence of junior Ricky Morales, who shook off the effects of Buncoat's matchup zone to score 18 of his team high 22 points in the second half. Helping the cause was senior Ray Gonzales, who turned in a fine all around game with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. "I figured no one else was going to pick it up in the first half," said Gonzales, who had 11 points in the first half when the rest of his teammates were struggling with their offense.
Despite jumping out to a 9-2 lead, Fitchburg trailed at the half, 26-24. Bradley asserted himself early, hitting a pair of three pointers and generally causing havoc on the defensive end. "He's a terrific player. He's got a great touch," said Fitchburg coach Doug Grutchfield.
"We were intimadated in the first half," Morales admitted. "(Bradley) was kind of changing my shot."
A 9-0 run gave Burncoat the lead, 22-16, and the Patriots had succeeded in dragging Fitchburg into a halfcourt game. It took hoops by Morales and Gonzales, the latter just before the halftime buzzer to get Fitchburg as close as it was at the break.
"I thought before the half we had to play flawlessly. We were doing exactly what we wanted," Diamantopoulos said.
"The first half we weren't working hard on defense," Morales said. "But in the second half we came out and started working hard on defense, and that's what got it going."
"We stopped playing scared," added Gonzales.
A three-pointer by Kenan (9 points), followed by consecutive Morales hoops off steals, brought the Red raiders to life and gave them their first lead since midway through the first half. It was still anybody's game with Burncoat ahead, 44-43 on a drive by Bradley with 6:28 left, but Morales respondedd with his second straight three pointer to put Fitchburg on top for good.
After a traveling call on Bradley, Gonzales canned a pair of free throws and Fitchburg turned up the screws on the pressure. "I'd like to see the videotape of those traveling calls," said Burncoat coach Jim Diamantopoulos. "That was part of the momentum switch, and Ricky Morales hit those two three pointers. That was a big swing."
Another Bradley hoop cut it to 53-47 with 4:09 to go, but Burncoat wouldn't score again as Fitchburg took control with a steady dose of free throws and layups off steals. Sophomore Jon Gauvin provided tough defense on Bradley in the final minutes, drawing a crucial charge and adding four free throws.
"We were overmatched. Our kids bought into the stategy very well," Diamantopoulos said. "But once (Fitchburg) got the lead, they went for the jugular."
"That last seven minutes was unbelievable," Grutchfield said.
As tough as Bradley was, Burncoat's only other offensive answer was Mike Lussier with 10 points. NO other Patriot had more than 4.
"We knew (Bradley) was going to score, but we had to try to shut down the other people," said Fitchburg's Dan Schneider.