RallyNorth.net

BOSTON - Giant-killer Watertown had reputation-building on its mind this weekend at the Comcast Boys Basketball Tournament. The projected beast of the upcoming Division 3 North tourney KO'd Division 1 power Newton North Saturday, but shoot as they might, there was no slaying goliath Central Catholic in last night's title game. Facing nobody taller than 6-foot-3, tourney Most Valuable Player Carson Desrosiers feasted and frolicked, both inside and out, in a 77-70 Central win. "As you saw, they really can shoot it," said coach Rick Nault of small but lethal Watertown, which knocked in 10 3-pointers to keep things interesting for all 32 minutes. "We asked a lot of Carson tonight, not only to score and rebound but to go out there and play defense on the perimeter against guards." Desrosiers, at 6-foot-10, answered the call and then some in a 29-point, 15-rebound, 4-block, 3-dunk night. The junior hit 12 of 16 shots from the field. "Coach told they would try to take me out and attack me off the dribble," said Desrosiers, who at one point was 9 of 10 from the field. "They did that and I got a couple blocks. Having shooters like that can make it tough." Trailing 40-28 at the break, it was a matter of Central returning to what it does best. The Raiders got after it defensively, and with that came opportunities to cash in. All-tourney selection Billy Marsden, struggling a bit from the field lately and forced to play more point guard with Benny Fernandez in foul trouble, thrived in the role, relying on his craftiness and creativity in a 22-point, seven-assist night. The senior drove and got hacked for two, nailed a triple and fired a no-look, cross-lane laser to Jimmy Zenevitch (10 points) for a wide-open layin as the Raiders opened the second half on a 15-3 flurry. With Desrosiers invoking his will with four fourth-quarter hoops and Marsden there to ice it (7 of 8 from the line in the quarter), Central put its 19th victim in the books, with only Wednesday nights tango with St. John's Prep remaining in the regular season.