Peter Welch Club Captures SBBA Title
By Kevin Devlin
On a windy Wednesday evening, August 24, at the Mike Pano basketball courts located within M Street Park, the Peter Welch Club defeated Sal’s Club, aka the Young Guns, 50-42, to win the 2016 South Boston Basketball Association (SBBA) summer men’s league championship. Welch Club guard Rick McNair and forward Matt Smith were SBOL’s co-MVP’s. In the opening minutes, Sal’s Club took an early 6-2 lead. The teams subsequently traded baskets but with seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Welch Club went on a 10-0 run, to take a 19-12 lead. Sal’s Club responded and went on a 9-0 run of their own to realize a 21-19 advantage at the break. In the second half, the teams battled back and forth, both going on mini-runs, as neither team could distance themselves from their opponent. With 3:05 left in the game, the Welch Club had a one point lead, 38-37, yet that was as close as Sal’s Club would get, as the Welch Club expanded its lead and the players went home with the SBBA title and new sweatshirts. For the Welch Club, Rick McNair netted twelve points, including one three-pointer. Matt Smith scored ten points (two treys) and Mike Murray had eight points. Mike Balzarini scored six points, Tom Moore, and Jay Bramwell had five points apiece, while Steve Barbuto contributed four points. For Sal’s Club, Dan Powers netted sixteen points, including one three-pointer. Mitch Newcomb and Brian Dunphy (one trey) each scored ten points and Matt Greeley, nursing a sore shoulder, finished the season with six points. League Commissioner, Eddie “Wilt” Curran, wishes once again to thank the league sponsors for their support. “Without the sponsors, without the use of the Tynan gym Southie Hoop Champs Crowned for rainouts, this league wouldn’t exist,” said Curran. “Having their support is crucial to keeping this league intact. I’d like to thank the Boston Beer Garden, the Quietman Golf Committee, South Boston Check Cashing, Sal’s, Cranberry Café, the Playwright Bar, Peter Welch’s Gym, and Robert Sullivan Insurance for supporting us every summer and winter. The guys appreciate it and so do I.” Semi-final wrap-up: In the first semi-final game, the Welch Club went on a 16-2 run in the final five minutes of the game, to defeat the Boston Beer Garden Club, 43-34. For the Welch Club, Rick McNair was sensational, as he netted seventeen points, including two three-pointers from the top of the key. Jay Bramwell scored ten points and Matt Smith had eight points. For the Boston Beer Garden Club, Frankie Lynch scored nine points, including one three-pointer. Bob Bartlett had seven points and Matt “Sitcka” Walsh scored five points, while Danny Lynch and Joey Chapin, contributed four points apiece. In the second semi-final tilt, Sal’s Club eked out a two-point victory against the Quietman Club, 33-31. Sal’s Club point guard Matt Kehoe (11 pts.) who played a great game defensively, hit a big three-pointer to give his team the lead with less than fifteen seconds remaining. But then Quietman center, Adam Donovan, hit a rimpopping three-pointer to tie it up with a six ticks left on the game clock. It looked like the game would be decided it overtime. But Kehoe came back down the court, and with two seconds left in the game, hit an eight-foot floater in the key, to give his team the lead as well as the win. He was certainly the number one hero in the semifinal games. (Writer’s Note: The SBBA is dedicated to the memory of John “Injun” Horan, a lifelong resident who coached, managed, officiated, and mentored Southie youngsters for generations.)
The SBBA 2016 summer league semi-finalists, the Boston Beer Garden Club.
The players are: Danny Lynch, Joey Chapin, Matt “Sticka” Walsh, Frankie
Lynch, and Bobby Bartlett.
The SBBA 2016 summer league semi-finalists, the Quietman Club. The players
are: Eddie “Wilt” Curran, Scotty Lewis, John Costello, Jeff Powers, Chris Curran,
Bobby Griffin, Adam Donovan, and Chris Potts.
The SBBA 2016 summer league finalists, the Sal’s Club. The players are:
Mitch Newcomb, Mike Gillis, Dan Powers, Brian Dunphy, Matt Greeley, and
Matt Kehoe (Matt Beggan not pictured).
