LYNN — The English boys basketball team is now just two wins away from a second straight state title, but all eyes are focused on Tuesday night’s Division 1 state semifinal game. The Bulldogs, who captured the Division 1 North title with a thrilling overtime win over Lowell this past weekend, will go up against Division 1 South champion Mansfield on the TD Garden parquet to decide who moves on to the state final.
“It’s a good feeling to get back to the Garden,” said English coach Antonio Anderson. “To be able to get back to this point for the second straight year is a testament to these players and the program. But at the same time, we still have work to do.”
English (22-2) comes into the state semifinal on an emotional high after knocking off previously undefeated Lowell in hostile territory at Tsongas Center in Lowell over the weekend. After such a hard-fought battle against one of the best teams in the state, Anderson feels the Bulldogs are prepared for anything.
“Anytime you can get a win like that against such a good opponent, it’s good for the team going forward,” Anderson said. “But it doesn’t get any easier now. We know that we’re in for another tough test.”
English’s opponent, South champion Mansfield, is no pushover and has a winning pedigree of its own.
The Hornets — who won the Division 1 state championship back in 2018 and made it to the Division 1 South final in 2019 — went 19-3 during the regular season and earned the No. 1 seed in the 2020 Division 1 South tournament. After a bye in the first round, Mansfield squeezed past No. 8 Attleboro (54-52) in the quarterfinal round before notching a big win over No. 4 Needham (73-52) in the semifinal. In the Division 1 South final, the Hornets pushed past No. 2 Brockton (78-65) to earn the sectional title.
Now at 22-3, Mansfield will be one of the toughest tests the Bulldogs face all year.
The two teams are also a bit familiar with each other, having played an early-season game at Paul Cavanagh Field House back in December that English won in overtime (79-71).
“It’s going to be another battle,” Anderson said. “Even from when we played them earlier in the year, we’re a better team now and so are they. They’re really well-coached and talented, so we know we’re going to have to bring our best.”
In the end, though, it will all come down to execution for English. The Bulldogs have had momentary lapses in efficiency at times during the season, but never for extended periods of time. English will need to remain at that high level of execution if it wants to punch a second straight ticket to the state championship game.
“If we can defend the way we’re capable of and we can knock down shots, we’ll be in good shape,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, it’s basketball. They’re going to be prepared and so are we, so we’ll just see what happens.”
English at Mansfield will tip off Tuesday night (7:15) at TD Garden.