CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Rindge & Latin coach Geo Rodriguez was a player on the school’s 2001 state championship team, then on the coaching staff as they captured back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. More than most, he understands the history and legacy the program’s eight state championship banners represent.
Tuesday night was not up to that standard.
The No. 9 Falcons ultimately prevailed for a 64-59 victory over Weston, their 10th consecutive victory, but they did so in spite of one of their worst efforts of the season. They lacked energy from the opening tip, committed too many turnovers to count and may have even overlooked their Division 3 opponent. Cambridge (11-2) didn’t take a lead until the fourth quarter and needed a spark from some of its bench players to ultimately emerge victorious.
The Falcons will certainly take the win, but Rodriguez didn’t mince words on what he described as a disappointing performance.
“I expect more,” Rodriguez said. “Expectations are high obviously especially when you’re playing for Cambridge Rindge & Latin. I told my team at halftime, for a senior-led team, they should be able to control games and coach themselves and I should just make subs. Ultimately, they disrespected the Cambridge brand, the Cambridge legacy. You’re not supposed to get the torch and carry it that way. They have to know who they’re playing for.
“As a coach who’s played here, won state championships, been part of a state championship staff … I thought it was a big embarrassment, big disrespect to the program. We were able to turn it around in the second half from there.”
MIAA BOYS TOP 10: Masconomet surges back into top 5
Cambridge scored only six points in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 11 in the second quarter as sloppy turnovers and missed shots at the rim mounted. They couldn’t finish defensive stops with rebounds either. Weston, which entered with a 12-2 record, was formidable, played together and with effort, and made shots, too.
But Cambridge closed the first half strong with a 6-0 run to trim its deficit to four as the energy picked up with players off the bench. Rodriguez rolled with that crew, leaving several of his usual starters on the bench, to start the second half. They finally started getting stops, grabbing rebounds and making shots. The turnovers continued, but the Falcons did enough to leave with a victory. After a back-and-forth fourth quarter, senior guard Issaiah Adams hit a big corner 3 off an inbounds play to go up five with just over two minutes to go before senior co-captain Jaydaan Correia hit a dagger step-back triple to go up eight with a minute to go.
“It’s going to be an absolute wake-up call,” Rodriguez said of the performance.
Here are five standouts and takeaways from the game.
Mustafa Nur, Cambridge
Class of 2027, guard
This was Nur’s first full game back since being academically cleared, Rodriguez said, and he was the biggest difference-maker of the night as a spark plug off the bench. He finished with 14 points (including two 3-pointers) with six rebounds and two blocks, and he was immense in the second half. He made several effort plays, with multiple offensive rebounds including an important fourth quarter follow in transition, and he made skilled shots off the bounce, including an impressive turnaround jumper off a drive from the free-throw line.
“I think he’s one of our missing pieces,” Rodriguez said. “If we had him for the beginning of the year, things would be a lot different. This is his second year on varsity and that kid can really play. He’s really special.”
MIAA BOYS STARS: Top performers from Jan. 26-Feb. 1
Itamar Fox, Cambridge
Class of 2026, guard
On a night when Cambridge’s typical guard play wasn’t up to par, Fox delivered what the Falcons needed with clutch shotmaking and high-level playmaking. He had 16 points with five assists, and his big shots were the story. His running floater off glass at the halftime buzzer gave Cambridge some momentum going into the second half and he hit two more important triples in the second half, including a wing trey on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Falcons their first lead of the night. He was also disruptive defensively with a steal and score and he made a pair of important free throws in the final minute.
“I tell people all the time: people want the stats. He’s just a guy who makes winning plays,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously a couple of bone-headed turnovers down the stretch, I think that was more fatigue because he played more than he should have. But in the moments when we need to make plays, it’s always Itamar Fox who ends up hitting that big shot or getting that big steal or getting that big assist, so he’s a big playmaker for us.”
Leo Kirk, Weston
Class of 2026, guard
Kirk was outstanding for creating himself and others, and I thought he had a really mature, poised game who played with own pace and balance. He made some high-level moves and shots, including a crossover into the paint for a short pull-up bucket, and he made a drive into a jump stop in the lane before spinning on his pivot foot and scoring over his shoulder. Always with his head up ready to make a play with the ball, Kirk made an outstanding play in the fourth quarter when he played with his back to the basket on a defender before finding a cutter for two. He finished with 20 points and was one of the biggest reasons Weston nearly pulled off the upset alongside senior co-captain Dmani Williams, who had 19 points and three 3-pointers.
Takeaways
1. If Cambridge – which was No. 9 in the MIAA’s Division 1 power rankings entering Tuesday – makes a run in the state tournament, the Falcons will obviously need to play with stronger effort and their senior stars like Correia, Imam Firmin and Aaron Abebe will have to be better. But you also always need your role players to step up in important moments in March, and they could look back on Tuesday as a pivotal moment for Fox, Nur and other pieces like Adams, senior Jahari Toure Ortiz and sophomore Kabir Varanasi, who each made contributions in the win. That should go a long way in their confidence.
2. Despite Tuesday’s uncharacteristic effort, Rodriguez believes this group is ready for a championship run. The Falcons have big wins over Attleboro and Brockton on its resume this season, so he knows their potential is great.
“I just think it’s their time,” Rodriguez said. “I think they really have an opportunity. When they’re playing at their best and they’re playing at a high level, they’re really, really good. We got some good quality wins against some good quality opponents. Once we’re consistent about it and we approach every game like it’s an Attleboro or it’s Brockton or BC High, taking nothing from Weston … I think that’s what it was. These guys weren’t up because they thought they would cruise through a game. We have to be better there. If we change that mindset and that mentality and we play like we did against the Attleboros and the Brocktons and the BC Highs, we’re going to be a tough out.”
