Dorchester’s Keyon Jones (New Mexico State) returned to form on Saturday in the neighborhood rivalry game against Mattapan – taking a beating in the playground ball matchup but providing key baskets to help the home team pull away late, 53-44. Seth Daniel photo
Above, Chauncey Cheeks (Cathedral High) for Mattapan tries to go over Dorchester’s Keyon Jones (New Mexico State) on a breakaway. Cheeks and Jones were one of the marquee matchups to watch during the neighborhood rivalry games. Seth Daniel photo
After 10 years of neighborhood rivalry games, Dorchester and Mattapan finally got to face off against one another last Saturday during the 13th annual Crew Love basketball tournament at Harambee Park in Franklin Field.
Keyon Jones (New Mexico State), Jaleel Bell (Framingham State) and Shandon Brown (Niagara University) led the way to a 53-44 win for the Dorchester squad that was much closer than the final score.
Roxbury is the traditional arch-rival for Dorchester, they Roxbury was upset by Hyde Park in the opening round despite tough play from Tyrone Perry (Brighton High, University of New Haven) and a surprise new player Jaedon Roberts (Burke HS, Hofstra University). That left the first-ever braggin’ rights championship – under a new format after 10 years – between Dorchester and Hyde Park, with Dorchester emerging as the champion and taking back the neighborhood rivalry trophy after losing a close one to Roxbury last year.
But the game to watch, according to co-founder Jay Branch and most others in the audience, was Dorchester vs. Mattapan.
TJ Allen (Darrow School) for Mattapan fought tooth and nail with Dorchester’s Shandon Brown (New Hampton School, Niagara University) at the guard spot all afternoon. Seth Daniel photo
Dorchester initially looked like it would cruise to victory, but Mattapan came out punching on defense with Chauncey Cheeks (Cathedral High) and T.J. Allen (Darrow School) creating numerous steals and scoring off the break in a game that was allowed to be physical. Tyshawn Moore hit several threes, and even hit one at the buzzer to put Mattapan up 23-21 at the half.
The second half was no different with scrappy play from Cheeks and the Mattapan crew, but a determined Dorchester team used its experience to muscle through. Turning points included one trip where at least five obvious fouls under the basket were “no-calls,” but Bell powered through and scored. Brown also had a tough possession against Allen that resulted in a hard-fought basket – and an intense stare-down between the older and younger point guards.
The decider was a three-pointer by Jones from the wing that put Dorchester up 45-34. Mattapan never gave up and continued tough play through the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough.
The Mattapan and Dorchester neighborhood teams pose with Crew Love founders Ceasar Veal, Greg Jean, Andrew Angus, Richard Nichols, Phil Bell, Jay Branch, and Philip Jean at center court last Saturday. Seth Daniel photo
The Crew Love, 10-team double elimination tournament played out mostly on Sunday, with the first-ever three-peat title by the Members Only team. Jones, Cheeks and Bell were featured on the team and Cheeks and Jones – who were rivals in the neighborhood game – played well together to come back and win the championship.
“We had our first-ever three-peat in the Crew Love tournament with Members Only coming back and winning it all again,” said Branch. “Keyon and Chauncey played really well together, and even went on an 11-0 run by themselves to pull away.”
Bell won overall MVP of the Crew Love Tournament.
The youth 12U Spread Love Invitational saw a repeat champion in ‘Respect Us or Check Us,’ winning in a very competitive field of teams.
Dorchester’s Jaleel Bell (Fitchburg State) provided key baskets and defense down the stretch to help Dorchester pull away. Seth Daniel photo
On Sunday, special guest Bruce Brown – the Dorchester native and NBA champion guard for the Denver Nuggets – stopped by the tournament to take in some games. Brown grew up only a few blocks away from Harambee Park and made several appearances in the neighborhood following his 2023 championship season.
Co-founders Branch and Richard Nichols were awarded at center court on Sunday for their 13 years of dedication to building up Crew Love.
The first tournament came together 13 years ago when friends Ceasar Veal, Greg Jean, Andrew Angus, Nichols, Phil Bell, Branch, and Philip Jean decided to create a showcase for neighborhood basketball in August. From Dorchester, Roxbury, South End, and other parts of Boston, they all grew up competing in City League high school basketball, particularly for Charlestown High under former Coach Jack O’Brien.
Seth Daniel photos
The Crew Love ‘Spread Love’ invitational tournament for the 12U age-group was quite a hit on Friday and Saturday. Here, ‘Super Elite’ (black jerseys) played stifling defense to win the consolation game.
