BOSTON, Mass. — The schedule-makers of the New England Basketball League couldn’t have scripted a better ending to the regular season. Sunday’s finale between Newman and Putnam Science was not only a matchup of arguably the two best boys prep teams in New England, but also decided the regular-season championship and the top seed in next weekend’s league playoffs.
It didn’t disappoint. And in some ways, it may have exceeded the hype.
Putnam Science ultimately prevailed, 81-69, at the Track at New Balance in one of the most physical and emotional games of the season. Tempers flared before, after and during 40 minutes of the highest level of prep basketball you’ll find in New England.
The final score is not remotely indicative of how close this game was; neither team led by more than five for most of a wildly entertaining, back-and-forth game before the Mustangs made more plays down the stretch to pull away. The victory stamped an outstanding weekend for the defending prep national champions, which had to beat Cushing on Saturday and Newman on Sunday to leave Boston with the NEBL’s No. 1 seed.
“(It shows) we’re one of the best teams in the country and I think we’ve kind of been overlooked a little bit this year,” Putnam Science coach Tom Espinosa said. “This was a statement game. We played Cushing yesterday, Newman today at Newman, there was a lot against us and I don’t think people thought we’d come out of here 2-0, to be honest. I think it’s a huge statement weekend for Putnam Science.”
A tight whistle saw 21 combined fouls in the first half, but both teams fought through the game’s physicality with huge effort plays. Newman secured 20 offensive rebounds, but missed some big putback opportunities. There was one sequence in the second half when the Cardinals grabbed four offensive boards on one possession – including three from Timmy Bollin – but they couldn’t take advantage.
The Cardinals trailed by four with three minutes remaining but couldn’t find the shot to bring it back to one possession, and Putnam converted on the other end. Up five with less than 90 seconds to go, Jah Hatchett came up with a huge steal and score that served as the decisive blow.
The NEBL playoffs are set for next weekend at the Track at New Balance, and we might be seeing a rematch of Sunday’s thriller. No. 1 Putnam Science will take on No. 4 Cushing, and No. 2 Newman will face No. 3 New Hampton in Saturday’s semifinals, with the winners meeting in Sunday’s NEBL championship game.
Here are seven standouts from Putnam Science’s victory over Newman.
Kamai Samuels, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Putnam trailed by three at halftime and Samuels helped set the second-half tone with six points in the first 90 seconds, including a three-point play to start the period. He was impactful getting to the rim, but his two biggest plays may have come on jumpers. He hit a pull-up that gave Putnam a seven-point lead with less than eight minutes to go – which at that point was its largest cushion – and he drilled a back-breaking, side-step 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with less than three minutes left that gave the Mustangs a 73-66 lead. The uncommitted guard finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.
“He’s one of the best guards in New England,” Espinosa said. “He gets downhill, he can really get downhill, finish and people have questioned his skill, his jumper and all that. I think he had three 3s yesterday, and I think two today. He’s more skilled than people think. He’s one of the best point guards we’ve ever had.”
Jalen Taggart, Putnam Science
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Taggart is known as a 3-point shooter, and he showed that ability Sunday with his confident, quick release. But most of his 17 points came in the paint on Sunday. Alongside Samuels, he was efficient and crafty at getting to the rim and finishing. One came on a spin move around a defender in the paint, and another came on an athletic finish as he hung in the air over a defender. On one 3-point attempt, he chased his own miss in traffic, came up with the ball and got fouled on a putback attempt. Taggart, who recently earned an offer from Oklahoma State, proved he’s more than just a shooter.
“You should see him in practice, he’s just a bucket,” Espinosa said. “Around the rim, he does that all the time in practice. He doesn’t do that a lot in the games because he’s a catch and shoot guy, but it didn’t surprise any of us. He can score the ball.”
Adama Tambedou, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Senegal, Africa
NCAA: Maryland
Tambedou was at the center of the game’s physicality and emotion, and he picked up three first-half fouls. But I thought he did a great job of managing that physicality in the second half; he didn’t pick up his fourth foul until the game was decided in the final minutes, and he grabbed some crucial rebounds while defending well on the interior. Several of Putnam’s momentum plays came via Tambedou; he scored on an offensive putback, he forced Newman star Lucas Morillo into a turnover in the paint, he finished a three-point play off a strong pick and roll, and he grabbed two explosive defensive rebounds on back-to-back possessions.
“Talk about a kid who’s come such a long way. Last year, first semester he didn’t even play for us. Second semester, he was in foul trouble every game,” Espinosa said. “That’s just how much he’s improved and how mentally, not just his skill or talent, but mentally just how much he’s really understanding the game and really improving. He’s a monster. His motor is second to none.”
Favour Egbuna, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-9 center
Hometown: Egunu, Nigeria
Putnam boasted an advantage in the post with Egbuna, who scored on several tough moves inside where he overwhelmed the defender with his physical strength. He also converted on a steal and score where he showed some skill in the open floor to break away with the ball and finish. Egbuna finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, which included one on a 3-pointer. He’s been a key to the Mustangs’ success all winter and remains uncommitted, but he’s a certain Division 1 prospect.
Lucas Morillo, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
NCAA: Illinois
Morillo was listed for six turnovers as Putnam’s relentless ball pressure disrupted him at times, but you can’t keep a player as talented as him down for too long. And he had several moments where he put the game in his hands like he typically does and just made plays, whether it was finding a mismatch for a strong left-handed drive or creating a paint touch to collapse the defense before finding Atticus Richmond for a corner triple. It certainly wasn’t Morillo’s best game – he finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists – but he was still impactful and kept Newman around with his high IQ playmaking.
Louis O’Keefe, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
NCAA: Princeton
There are times when O’Keefe just looks like the best player on the floor. A floor general who’s a true leader of his teammates, the Princeton commit did a great job handling Putnam’s perimeter pressure and made some big-time plays. His 14 points included three 3-pointers, including a deep one at the end of the shot clock, and one impressive reverse layup finish. He finished with four assists, including one where he overcame ball pressure from Putnam guard Jordan Skyers, got by him baseline and found a cutting Morillo underneath that gave Newman a three-point lead as the first-half buzzer expired.
Atticus Richmond, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
NCAA: Columbia
I listed Richmond as an underrated player before the season, and he’s proceeded to be one of Newman’s most consistently impactful players throughout the winter with his two-way versatility and hustle plays. He was immense on Sunday with nine points and eight boards, including four on the offensive end, with one leading to a loud Preston Bollin one-handed slam in the first half. He also broke up a pass on the perimeter for a steal and score, and he made a strong finish at the rim where he put his body into a defender. He’s going to be an immediate impact player at Columbia next season.
Quick shouts: Quinn Costello’s 17 points included four 3-pointers, including a couple of massive ones in the second half that helped Newman stay within range of Putnam. He also had one of the plays of the night, getting the ball on a strong backdoor cut before exploding over Tambedou for a dunk. … Preston Bollin scored all nine of his points in the first half on several strong takes to the basket. He and his brother Timmy combined for 10 offensive rebounds. … Jordan Skyers only had four points for Putnam, but both of them were important in the second and came on athletic finishes in transition. He was also part of Putnam’s relentless defensive pressure on the perimeter. … David Gaymon quietly finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals for Putnam.
