STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT REGIONAL FINALE : Division II Boys : Woodbridge Puts End to Saugus Dream, 65-53

Three weeks after it was supposed to have ended, the Saugus High School basketball team’s season finally did end Saturday as Irvine Woodbridge defeated the Centurions, 65-53, in the Division II Southern Regional final at the Sports Arena.

Saugus, the wild-card team from the Golden League, which was supposed to be happy just to be in the playoffs, ended up within a game of the State final after winning the Southern Section 3-A title. And although the Centurions went a lot further than expected, the way they lost left them with a feeling of what might have been.

The Centurions, with no one taller than 6 feet 4 inches, were keying on the Warriors’ 6-8 center, Adam Keefe. That part of their game was a success, as they limited Keefe to 15 points.

But they concentrated too much on Keefe, freeing up 6-7 forward Vince Bryan, who scored 20 points, and guard Dave Townsend, who scored 16 points.

Still, Bryan and Townsend didn’t do enough damage that Saugus didn’t have a chance. What killed the Centurions was their offensive ineptitude, including a woeful second quarter in which they scored four points.

“In the first half, I though we played pretty good defense,” Saugus Coach John Clark said. “But we played horribly on offense.”

After the first quarter, Saugus trailed, 13-10, and with a few breaks, could have even been ahead. The second quarter started pretty much the same, with a basket by Keefe making it 15-10, but Saugus coming back with a bank shot by Jeff Dorst to make it 15-12 with 6:47 to go before halftime.

But after Dorst’s basket, Saugus scored only one basket in the final 6:47 of the half. The Centurions, who had been so patient in the first quarter, started to miss from everywhere. And they didn’t get any second attempts, as Keefe and Bryan dominated the boards.

Woodbridge, specifically Townsend and Bryan, took advantage of the drought to outscore Saugus, 17-4, which turned out to be the difference.

Townsend sank three long-range shots, plus a free throw to help make it 24-12. After a layin by Saugus’ Rusty Morse made it 24-14, Bryan closed out the half with a 15-footer, a fast break lay-in, and a follow shot off a Townsend miss to make it 30-14 at intermission.

In the second half, the Centurions fell behind as much as 18 before their press started to click as they cut the lead to 51-43 with 4:52 remaining. But Saugus could get no closer, blowing numerous opportunities to close the gap.

Woodbridge (27-5) advances to the State Division II final at Oakland, where the Warriors will play De Anza High of Richmond. Saugus finishes at 23-10.