Maida`s Metrowest Boys – Came, Saw, and Conquered …

 It was a late Sunday Championship Game and the final buzzer had just sounded. All that was missing was the song “We Are The Champions” blaring over the sound-system. The throng of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends could barely contain themselves from storming on to the court as the two teams and their Coaches lined up to shake hands.

 With a story like this however, we must hit the rewind button for a moment. Metrowest Basketball is made up of Travel Teams, featuring some of the most talented young (grds. 4-8) boys and girls from towns around New England. The league is a very competitive one, and workouts, practices and games alike, are taken very seriously. Most often, players are “developed” and continue to play in High School and College

 This season would be the last, for Dedham`s 8th grade boys, to play for legendary Basketball Coach John Maida. The current squad, led by Maida`s talented son Dylan and powerhouse Davin Sweeney, has been together since last November. As we`ve written, the boys went undefeated (12-0) last season, only to loose and be eliminated early in the playoffs. Coach Maida vowed, that this season would be different, and promised the boys months ago, that “you will not be out-worked on the court…”

 Practices have come at all times of the day, on any day of the week. “You`ve just got to be ready.” A Patriots game, a school vacation, a snowstorm, a week night, early on a Sunday – it didn`t matter – just show up for practice, and show up they did! There was running, shooting, drills and free throws. If you were found with your “hands on your knees” or missed an easy shot, there was more running.

 Although plagued by injuries (back, broken finger, and pulled muscles) and illness (flu-like symptoms and stomach viruses) throughout the regular season, come playoff time this year, John Maida`s boys were hungry and ready to play.

 Metrowest designed it`s playoff tournament much like the College March Madness. There were 16 teams in each division (north and south) that played elimination, bracket-styled games. This past week saw Dedham with 3 consecutive victories, beating Holliston (57-49), Arlington (65-55), and Brookline (55-42), to make it to the Championship Game in Mansfield on Sunday.

 In the south, their always strong neighbor and rival, Walpole, had also taken care of business with wins over Seekonk (34-22), Brockton (50-36), and Bridgewater (49-44). The stage was set, for these two powerhouse teams to meet, with only one of them to be crowned the 2014 Metrowest Champions!

 This was John Maida`s 6th trip to the Metrowest Tournament. His team had been eliminated 4 times in the semi-finals, and now, with this last chance to coach his oldest son Dylan (Devin and Ryan are in the wings), it was his first “final.”

 Joining Dylan Maida and big man Davin Sweeney, were veterans Corey Kilroy (rebounding and blocking the base line), Brian Tavares (amazing defense and not afraid to shoot), David Logan (sharp passer and can sink a three), Brandon Ruiz (speed and can steal the ball in the blink of an eye), and Mark Rella (heads up play and doesn`t back down). Newcomers Kyle Micciche (speed, hustle and always aware), and Dan Labadini (strong support both on and off the court), rounded out John Maida`s lineup. Nick Loring, Liam Dorsey, and Ty Rowell were not available for the match due to injury, but the team wouldn`t have made it this far without them.

 The buzzer sounded and both teams played cautiously, there were very few fouls and a great deal of passing that ate the clock. Dedham led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, trailed 14-13 at the half, and regained the lead 25-22 at the end of the third.

 With 8 minutes left in the game, and everyone in attendance on the edge of their seats, Dedham held on to a 29-26 lead. Each team scored a bucket and the score moved up to 31-28 Dedham, with 2 short minutes remaining. Walpole sank a 2-pointer (31-30) and Dedham missed on their next trip down the court. With 8 seconds remaining, Walpole drove to the hole for a winning layup, only to find Davin Sweeney stand his ground under the basket, and their shot missed. Sweeney grabbed the rebound, held on to the ball, and the buzzer sounded… 31-30 Dedham had won!

 After the game, Coach John Maida, still shaking with joy, called the boys and their parents on to the court. He thanked them all, “for showing the discipline, strength, and ability to rely on their teammates in order to win.” Maida told the group that he “wished them his best in the future, and that each and every one of them would be carrying a little piece of him with them, as they moved on…” Maida went on to “thank all the parents, for putting up with all of this – and with him!”

 As the boys gathered their gear, and filed off the court, you could just hear it in your mind. “We are the Champions my friend, and we`ll keep on fighting till the end…”