By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The ninth-seeded Westwood Wolverines clashed with the eighth-seeded Holyoke Knights at Holyoke High on Monday, March 4, in their Sweet 16 playoff match. In a fiercely contested game, Westwood gave their all but couldn't overcome Holyoke's narrow lead, ultimately losing 66-73. Eli Ifrah led the team with 23 points, supported by Andrew Weeman with 13 points, and Robert Liriano-Alejandro with 11 points.
From the opening tip-off, the Holyoke gymnasium buzzed with energy as both teams launched into action. Westwood battled to wrest control from Holyoke's aggressive offense while facing staunch defense from the Knights. Despite their efforts, Westwood trailed 13-20 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Westwood intensified their efforts, with Ifrah leading the charge to chip away at Holyoke's lead. However, Holyoke responded with renewed vigor, extending their advantage. By halftime, Westwood found themselves trailing by 13 points.
Entering the second half, Westwood continued to push back against Holyoke's onslaught. Despite a foul-heavy game, Westwood managed to gain points from the free-throw line. Liriano-Alejandro maneuvered around Holyoke's defense, seeking opportunities for his teammates. Despite their valiant efforts, Westwood still trailed by 12 points heading into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter saw Westwood fighting tooth and nail to stage a comeback, with the Holyoke fans adding to the intensity of the atmosphere. Despite their resilience, Westwood ultimately fell short, succumbing to Holyoke 66-73.
Reflecting on the game, head coach Ryan Douglass praised his team's tenacity and performance throughout the season, emphasizing their resilience in the face of adversity. He singled out Eli Ifrah for his offensive prowess but expressed pride in the team's collective effort: “We played a really fast and tough team. We knew coming into it we couldn't make certain mistakes, and unfortunately, we made those mistakes, but our guys are resilient and they’re going to fight no matter what the situation is. I’m proud of them for that, and I’m proud of our seniors, Eli Ifrah carried us offensively tonight, but we came up short,” said Douglass.
As the season concluded, Westwood bid farewell to graduating players Sean Callahan, Dylan Walsh, Vic Ganson, Ryan Gaffney, Andrew Weeman, Oliver Gannon, and Amari Ashley.
