Central Catholic runs into red-hot Brody Bumila, falls to Bishop Feehan in boys basketball state finals

Brody Bumila’s run for the ages went through the Merrimack Valley Conference.

After the 6-foot-9 monster dropped 51 points and 18 rebounds against No. 2 Andover in the Final Four this week, the senior poured in 36 points over top-seeded Central Catholic on Sunday night to edge the Raiders, 66-63, at the Tsongas Center.

No. 14 Bishop Feehan’s run for the ages also included upsets over No. 3 Needham (94-87) and No. 6 Bridgewater-Raynham (65-60).

Central Catholic star Javi Lopez totaled 30 points to lead the way, but it wasn’t enough to stop Bumila and Bishop Feehan put the finishing touches on its Cinderella run. The Raiders finish their season 22-3.

Central held an 18-13 lead after the first quarter and led 33-29 at halftime. Central somewhat kept Bumila in check, as he pocketed 17 points by the break.

But after Bishop Feehan pieced together a 14-2 run in the third quarter to jump out to a seven-point lead, Central was stuck playing catch-up. Bishop Feehan nursed a 52-46 lead into the final frame, and while Central Catholic came within as close as a point, the Raiders weren’t able to mount a comeback.

Central Catholic was the team to beat all season. Entering the winter as the unanimous No. 1 team in the state, the Raiders lived up to that billing with a title at the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic and a strong showing at the Hoophall Classic.

Lopez, the all-time leading scorer in program history, leaves behind an impressive legacy. Central also graduates Jeremiah Almanzar and Junior Nanje but has a strong core of returners on the rise.