Raider basketball renews grudge with Warriors

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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor

The Dover-Sherborn Regional and Medfield High School varsity boys basketball teams met for the second and final time this season on Friday evening as the Raiders (4-6, 3-4) looked to avenge their 60-51 defeat to the Warriors (6-4, 4-3) on their home court back on January 3.

Unfortunately for DS, the Warriors shot the lights out to begin the game - which included four first half three-pointers by senior guard Jake Dubbs (18 points) - as Medfield built a 45-14 lead by halftime and cruised to a 69-33 victory to complete the season sweep of their arch rivals.

Medfield began the game on an 18-2 run, thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Dubbs, along with six points by junior guard Stephen Williams (13 points) and six from junior forward Mitchell Gonser (11 points). Two more three-pointers by Dubbs followed by some slick ball handling and back-to-back layups by junior forward Christian Higgins (13 points) extended the lead to as many as 21 for Medfield at 26-5.

A pair of three-pointers by junior guard John Muckstadt (eight points) trimmed the deficit to 15 points for DS at 26-11. However, Medfield concluded the half on a 16-3 run highlighted by a pair of fast break lay-ins by Gonser, a three-pointer by Williams, and a 3-point play by senior forward John Lowell (nine points, 12 rebounds) to enter the midpoint break ahead by 31 points at 45-14.

Dover-Sherborn switched up its defensive strategy to a full-court press to begin the second half, but the added defensive pressure in the backcourt resulted in more fast breaks and odd-man opportunities for the Warriors, who continued to pound away and maintained a 29-point lead heading into the fourth quarter at 56-27.

After a scary crash into the bleachers near the end of the third quarter, Higgins came back into the game for the fourth and scored nine of Medfield’s 13 fourth quarter points. Medfield sophomore point guard Aidan Finn scored three of his six points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with seven assists. The 13-4 fourth quarter run sealed the victory for Medfield, as the Warriors prevailed by a convincing 36 points.

DS will try and get back on a winning note when the Raiders travel to Bellingham on January 19 while Medfield will attempt to serve up some revenge on January 26 when the Warriors travel to Westwood, who spoiled Medfield’s home opener on December 12.

For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.