WORCESTER — Jack Christopher had taken part in the Crompton Kingsway Summer Basketball League since he was a freshman and wanted to achieve what he deemed “some fruit for our labors” in his senior year, so much that he propelled Shrewsbury from the opening tip.
Christopher scored 11 of his game-high 17 points within the first 10 minutes to give his team a lead it didn't relinquish as third-seeded Stowe & Degon of Shrewsbury beat top-seeded Eddie’s Super Plaza of Doherty, 63-51, in the championship game Tuesday night at Bob Cousy Court.
“He was on today, so he made a bunch of shots attacking the rim and shooting outside, but his teammates helped tremendously to make those plays happen,” said Stowe & Degon coach Jaret Christopher, who is also Jack’s father.
“They know where to find me, they know how to hype me up, and the same goes vice versa,” the younger Christopher said. “Whoever has the hot hand gets the ball, and that’s how we play, and we’re so successful.”
Shrewsbury (11-3) received significant output from Christopher’s classmates, especially when it came time to put the game away. Nate Nardella dished out seven assists, with most of those aiding Christopher’s early scoring barrage, while Jackson Handley hit a trio of 3-pointers and hit all four of his free-throws in the final 65 seconds to go along with eight rebounds.
Jesse Osafo (14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) mixed tenacious defense with clutch free-throw shooting and helped push his team to the title. With 6:30 left, Osafo batted a 3-point attempt out of bounds and stole the ensuing inbound pass for a breakaway dunk in transition to boost the lead to 11.
Then, after Doherty shaved its deficit to five points, Osafo sank a pair of free throws with two minutes left, then a pair more as the lead jumped back to a more comfortable nine with 1:35 left.
“Jesse’s a great kid and a phenomenal basketball player,” coach Christopher said. “With offense and defense, he’s just a true athlete so he contributes to every game, and I’m not surprised he’s the one shooting foul shots at the end.”
Jack Christopher noted the coach kept the team grounded and added that Shrewsbury's experience in the Laska Tournament last December helped provide a blueprint for late-game efficiency.
Coach Christopher pointed out their plan of containing Jamel Walker, who scored 27 points in the semifinal against 2 Chefs of Burncoat, and the task was successful as the Dwayne McClain Award winner and playoff MVP runner-up was held to 17 points, 12 in the second half.
“Communication was key,” Osafo said. “We knew we couldn’t let him get going because he was their guy.”
Doherty also received significant contributions from Josh Romeo (13 points, 4 rebounds) and Geo Luna (11 points, 3 rebounds) while finishing summer league play at 12-2 after winning 10 of 11 regular-season games to claim the top seed.
Other regular-season awards were presented to Justin McCafferty of The Fix/Westboro (regular-season MVP) and Nick Barnes and Marcus Wareham of Sullivan & Garrity/St. John’s (Bob Cousy Award and Most Improved, respectively). Doherty's Prince Dukuly, who finished with six points on the night, was presented with the George Williams Award.
—Contact Zachary Stuczko at zachary.stuczko@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ZakStudz.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'He was on today': Jack Christopher boosts Stowe & Degon (Shrewsbury) to Crompton Kingsway Summer League title
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