The Boxers rallied for a four-point halftime lead and held off a second charge from the Trojans to improve to 13-0
BRIDGEWATER — The deeper into a season a team goes undefeated, the tougher it gets night in and night for them from their opponents.
Friday night at Bridgewater-Raynham High School, the Brockton boys basketball team found that out first hand.
After falling behind by nine point to start the game, the Boxers rallied for a four-point halftime lead and held off a second charge from the Trojans for a 60-57 non-league win to improve to 13-0 with their second over B-R in seven days.
Bridgewater-Raynham (7-6) opened the game with an 11-2 run on two Sam Brown baskets, a Darrius Hyppolite 3-pointer and jumpers from Connor Rubenskas and Tony Fernandez.
Brockton got a baskets from Segun Okunlola, an offensive rebound layup from Marcus Azor and a baseline jumper from Abu Kaba to cut the deficit to 11-8.
Two free throws from Jaelen Lee and a Nayvon Reid basket cut the Boxers deficit to 13-12, but a 3-pointer from B-R’s Jack Armstrong gave the Trojans a 16-12 lead after the first quarter.
Brockton came alive in the second quarter as the Boxers outscored the Trojans 15-10, with most of the work done on the offensive boards.
Four baskets from the Boxers came off of offensive rebounds and a steal and layup from Azor gave the Boxers a 23-17 lead.
Hyppolite connected on two 3-pointers, but two baskets and a free throw from Okunlola gave the Boxers a 30-26 halftime lead.
Brockton built their largest lead the game a minute into the second half on Janice Harris 3-pointer and layup. Hyppolite hit a 3-pointer and a Fernandes basket off a rebound cut the deficit to 35-31. Marcenal Louis-Charles answered for the Boxers with a 3-pointer, but a Hyppolite basket and 3-pointer on the following possession brought the Trojans within two at 40-38, before Louis-Charles and Nayvon Reid had back to back baskets to a 46-41 Brockton lead after the third quarter.
Doug Alves was held scoreless by Brockton through three quarter, but found his rhythm in the fourth quarter. Alves had a three-point play, followed by a jumper to cut the Boxers deficit to 51-49 midway through the fourth quarter. Kaba and Louis-Charles increased the Boxers lead to 55-49, but two free throws from Sam Brown and a free throw and an elbow jumper from Alves brought the Trojans within 55-54.
Jaelen Lee hit a deep 3-pointer from the left wing, before Hyppolite answered with his seventh 3-pointer. Taisaun Doherty-Glynn basket with 56 seconds left gave the Boxers a 60-57 lead, before the Trojans forced a turnover and missed a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to allow Brockton to remain undefeated.
Louis-Charles led Brockton with 14 points and Kaba had 10. Hyppolite scored a game-high 25 points for the Trojans, while Rubenskas had nine and Alves had seven, all in the fourth quarter.