Worcester Academy Wins Title
It took three wins over super prep school teams to get it done. Mo Cassara and his Worcester Academy team captured the 2003 New England Prep School Championship with a win over Winchendon last weekend.
Worcester, the event’s fifth seed, defeated St. Thomas More 74-69 in the first round, Bridgton 76-67 in the second and then gunned down Winchendon 91-84 in the title game. Guard Carl Elliott scored 27 points in the final and was named the event MVP. Providence-bound guard Dwight Brewington also hit for 27 in the championship.
Worcester was motivated to say the least, entering the tournament. “We didn’t get the respect we felt we deserved from the selection committee and that kind of fired us up,” Cassara said. “We were the fifth seed and 22-4.”
Cassara also lost a key player in the second round when Steve Hailey went down with a serious injury. “Actually, there are x-rays today but we think it’s a broken ankle.”
Brewington and Elliott helped Cassara advance to his third title game appearance in the four years he’s been at Worcester. “They just refused to let us lose. Dwight made all his free throws down the stretch. We were up 18 and got careless and they made a run. But, we made free throws, big shots and defended. It was a great ride.”