By Jack Nicas

The Mystic Avenue Summer Basketball League concluded its fifth year on Thursday night with down-to-the-wire finishes in both championship matches. In the younger division, Mohammed Borus led the Hornets to a 20-18 victory over the second place Celtics. Celtics stars Salieme Warsaw and Evelyn Ayala climbed back from an eight-point deficit in the second half, but Borus proved too much for the Celtics in the end.

In the main event, the top two teams from the older division, the Lakers and the Spurs, faced off for bragging rights of the Mystic Avenue projects. Somerville High School teammates and stars Franklin Salvador and Ricardo Bonhomme suited up for opposing teams, only to have Salvador’s Lakers come out on top. It is likely the pair’s last season with the league, as players at least; Bonhomme coached the league champion Hornets.

The most exciting game of the evening was the one with the least on the table. The younger division’s third-place match up between the Bulls and the Heat came down to free throws with time expired. Heat star Carls Alphonse had two free throws with his team down by one. He missed the first and made the second, causing pandemonium on the court; even the Bulls celebrated for the chance to play an additional few minutes. Bulls star Shyheem Silva took over in overtime to grant his team third place in the younger division.

League Director Hugh Coleman said he looks to improve upon the league next year with an extended schedule, from the first week of June to the beginning of the school year, and hopeful upgrades of equipment, such as player names on the backs of jerseys.

The league banquet will be held on Tuesday, August 19 in front of the Mystic Avenue Learning Center. Coleman said food will be provided, trophies will be distributed, and League MVPs will be announced. Children from the community will provide entertainment through the annual talent show.