By Mike Rubin

With a tournament berth already clinched, Somerville boys basketball  has its sights set on even loftier goals. After cruising to a pair of wins over Medford (78-68) and Everett (71-65), the Highlanders improved to 12-2 and are 5-1 in the Greater Boston League. And with two games with first place Cambridge on the horizon, the Highlanders are in control to clinch their first GBL title on the horizon for the first time since 1988.

“I remember very well when the last time we won the GBL title,” reminisced coach Mark Antonelli. “I was about 10 years old, and Jimmy Perry was the captain of the team. That was a really great team back then, and I’m hoping we can accomplish what that team did back 23 years ago.”

In the win over Medford last Thursday, the Highlanders struggled and trailed 23-17 at the half before the Mustangs erupted on a 17-5 run in the second quarter and maintained a 40-29 halftime edge.

“They (Medford) were shooting lights out in the first half,” said Antoinelli. “We had trouble breaking their press and they forced a lot of turnovers. As the game went on, we were able to make a lot of adjustments and we were able to regain control of the game in the second half.”

In the third quarter, the Highlanders reeled off a 12 to 2 run, closing the gap within one before trailing just 52 to 50. Throughout half of the fourth quarter, both teams traded baskets before the Highlanders established a 10-0 run to close the contest.

“We were able to make some huge shots down the stretch, and we hit all of our free throws,” said Antonelli. “We had some guys really step it up in the second half, and play with a lot of intensity.”

Offensively, Johnson Thomas led the way, recording 24 points and 15 rebounds while Billy Bonnet added 18 points. Other contributors for the Highlanders in the win included Kevin Silva, who added nine points and eight assists followed by Gustavo DeMoura with eight points.

“(Thomas) was huge in the second half for us,” said Antonelli. “He had (14) points in the second half, and he always seems to be there when we need a big shot or two down the stretch. I was very pleased with the way rebounded in the third quarter.”

In Friday’s win over Everett, the Highlanders grabbed a 21-17 lead through the end of the first quarter before extending the lead to 38-33 at the half. In the third quarter, the Highlanders established a brief scoring run, increasing the lead to 58-45 before foul trouble brought the Crimson Tide within striking distance.

After the Crimson Tide closed the gap within two points late in the contest, the Highlanders were able to secure the win, nailing several key free throws down the stretch.

Offensively, Silva led the way with 21 points while Skerby Odivin added 18 in the win. Other contributors included Bonnet with 14 and Thomas with nine. Off the bench senior captain Shane DesRochers chipped in with three points and seven rebounds.

“DesRochers was huge for us in the fourth quarter,” said Antonelli. “We had two guys foul out, and he was able to help us out with some huge rebounds. He was able to help us maintain our lead in the fourth quarter when they were coming back.”

After facing Revere in a non-league match on Wednesday, the Highlanders will face-off against Cambridge on Friday night in WFXT’s Fox High School Basketball Game of the week.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” said Antonelli. “Last year, we were fighting for our tournament lives, and this year we’re striving for something that we never thought would be possible at the beginning of the season, and that is to be in the hunt for the league title this late in the season.”